Incheon Karaoke Bar Owner Suspected of Murder and Abandonment of Customer Faces Identity Disclosure Efforts

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyung-su] The police are considering disclosing the personal information of a man in his 30s who owned a karaoke bar in Incheon and who killed a customer before disposing of the body.

The Violent Crimes Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 13th that they are reviewing the disclosure of personal information of Mr. A, a karaoke bar owner in his 30s, who was arrested on charges of murder and corpse disposal.

The police decided to proceed with the process of revealing Mr. A's real name, considering the public's right to know and the crime prevention effect.

The decision on whether to disclose personal information will be made at the Police Personal Information Disclosure Review Committee next week.

A police official stated, "We plan to discuss the timing of holding the review committee after the decision on Mr. A's detention is made," and added, "If disclosure is decided, personal information such as face, name, and age will be revealed."

According to the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, personal information can be disclosed when there is sufficient evidence to believe that a suspect of a specific violent crime, involving cruel means and causing serious damage, has committed the crime.

Earlier, Mr. A is suspected of killing a customer, Mr. B, at his karaoke bar in Sinpo-dong in the early morning of the 22nd of last month and then disposing of the body. Mr. B went missing after visiting Mr. A's karaoke bar with an acquaintance around 7:30 p.m. on the 21st of last month. A detailed forensic examination of the scene found Mr. B's bloodstains and microscopic human tissue inside the karaoke bar.

The police applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A at the court that afternoon. The pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) is scheduled to be held at the Incheon District Court as early as the 14th.