'Nowon-gu Three Women Murder' Kim Taehyun Sent to Prosecution: "Guilt for Breathing with Eyes Open"

'Nowon-gu Three Women Murder' Kim Taehyun Sent to Prosecution on the 9th

"Shamelessly opening my eyes and breathing is also guilt"
"I apologize to all the victims"
Kneeling during responses
Removed mask and revealed face at reporters' request

Kim Tae-hyun, who is accused of murdering three women in a family at an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, is seen kneeling and appearing to apologize before being transferred to the prosecution at Dobong Police Station in Seoul on the 9th.
Photo by Song Seung-yoon, Kang Jin-hyung

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Kim Taehyun (24), who is accused of murdering three women in an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, was handed over to the prosecution on the 9th.

The Nowon Police Station in Seoul sent Kim, who is charged with murder, theft, trespassing, violation of the Minor Offenses Act (continuous harassment), and information and communications network infringement, to the prosecution around 9 a.m. that day. Kim, who had been detained at the Dobong Police Station in Seoul, was escorted to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office and showed his face to the media for the first time that day.

When asked by reporters, "Do you have anything to say to the bereaved families?" Kim said, "I feel a lot of guilt just for shamelessly opening my eyes and breathing like this," and added, "I apologize to everyone who was harmed because of me." When asked further questions such as "When did you start planning the crime?" and "Do you admit to stalking charges?" he only repeated, "I'm sorry." Kim showed almost no change in expression and answered the questions relatively calmly.

At the reporters' request to remove his mask, Kim briefly lowered it. Wearing a black jumper and pants, he had a scruffy beard. During his answers, Kim also briefly knelt down as if to apologize.

Suspect Kim Taehyun, accused of breaking into an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, and killing a mother and her two daughters, is revealing his face on the 9th at Dobong Police Station in Seoul before being sent to the prosecution. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

Kim was arrested on the 4th on suspicion of killing three women in an apartment in Junggye-dong, Nowon-gu, on the 23rd of last month. He stole a weapon from a nearby supermarket and entered the house pretending to be a delivery driver.

The police responded to a report from an acquaintance of the victims on the 25th of the same month, stating, "I can't contact my friend," but when they arrived at the scene, the three women were already dead. Before the police arrived, Kim attempted self-harm and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery and was hospitalized. After recovering to a level where communication was possible, he was arrested on the 2nd and questioned four times. Four profilers were also involved in the investigation.

Kim testified to the police that he was angry because the eldest daughter, Ms. A, made disparaging remarks about him in a group chat. He reportedly said he confirmed the address by looking at the delivery box in a photo sent by the victim via mobile messenger. The police also found evidence that Kim planned the crime in advance by searching the internet for murder methods. Kim also damaged some information on Ms. A's phone to conceal his crime.

On the 5th, the police held a personal information disclosure review committee and decided to release Kim's name, age, and photo. The committee cited reasons including ▲ meticulous planning of the crime by preparing necessary items in advance ▲ causing serious consequences by sequentially killing three victims ▲ sufficient evidence secured through crime tools collected at the scene, digital forensic results, and the suspect's confession ▲ causing social unrest ▲ and the case attracting national attention through public petitions.

The Nowon Police Station, which has been investigating this case, is scheduled to announce the results of the investigation into Kim on the morning of the same day.