'Triangle Family Murder' Kim Taehyun Sent to Prosecution... Thoroughly Planned Crime a Week in Advance (Summary)

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

Removes Mask and Reveals Face Upon Leaving Detention Center... Kneels During Responses
Police Announce Investigation Results... "Thoroughly Planned Crime, Not Impulsive"
Kim Transferred to Seoul Eastern Detention Center via Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office

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@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Kim Tae-hyun (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 violation of the Information and Communications Network Act, to the prosecution around 9 a.m. that day. Kim, who had been detained at the Dobong Police Station in Seoul, appeared before the media for the first time while being escorted to the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office.

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 the stalking charges?" he only repeated, "I'm sorry." Kim showed almost no change in expression and answered the questions relatively calmly.

At the request of the press to remove his mask, Kim briefly lowered it. Wearing a black jumper and pants, he appeared with a scruffy beard. During his answers, he also knelt down briefly 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 seen kneeling at Dobong Police Station in Seoul on the 9th before being sent to the prosecution. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

The Nowon Police Station, which investigated the case, announced the investigation results related to the case while sending Kim to the prosecution that morning. 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. On the 25th of the same month, police responded to a report from an acquaintance of the victims stating, "I can't contact my friend," and found the three deceased women and Kim, who had attempted self-harm, at the scene. Kim was transferred to a nearby hospital, underwent surgery, and was hospitalized. After recovering to a level where he could communicate, he was arrested on the 2nd.

According to the police investigation, Kim thoroughly planned the crime in advance, preparing the tools for the crime and checking the victim's work schedule starting a week before the incident.

At the time, he stole a weapon from a nearby supermarket, impersonated a courier service worker to enter the house, and killed the three women one by one. After the crime, Kim repeatedly attempted extreme acts, such as trying to harm himself, drinking a beverage, and then attempting self-harm again. After the crime, Kim checked conversations between the victim A and mutual acquaintances on A's phone and blocked them.

The police believe Kim intended to kill A's family as well. Kim stated, "If necessary to kill A, I can kill the family too," and it was reported that he already knew about A's younger sister before the crime.

According to the police, Kim and A first met last year through a game. They then communicated via messenger and met in person for the first time in January this year. It is reported that they went to play games together at that time. Afterward, Kim met A once more, and on the 23rd of the same month, four people, including another person met through the game, had dinner together. Kim testified that there was a quarrel at this gathering, and the next day, A told him not to come anymore.

Kim testified to the police that he became angry and felt betrayed because A, the eldest daughter, blocked contact and refused to meet him afterward, which led him to decide to commit the crime. Even after A refused to meet, he continued to try to contact her through acquaintances by sending messages or calling from public phones.

Kim will be detained at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center after meeting with a human rights supervisor and the chief prosecutor at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office on the same day. The case has been assigned to the Criminal Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Lim Jong-pil) of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office. The prosecution has decided to provide emergency funeral expenses of 12 million won to support the victims of the crime.