Serial Killer Kang Yoon-sung Wearing Electronic Ankle Bracelet Arrested and Indicted... Also Diagnosed as Psychopath

Kang Yoon-sung (56), who is accused of murdering two women before and after damaging an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet), is being transferred to the prosecution from Songpa Police Station in Seoul on the 7th of this month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Kang Yoon-sung (56), who is accused of damaging an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) and murdering two women, has been brought to trial.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Gon-ho) announced on the 24th that Kang was arrested and indicted on charges including robbery-murder, murder, fraud, obstruction of official duties, violation of the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act, violation of the Telecommunications Business Act, and violation of the Act on the Attachment of Electronic Devices.

According to the prosecution, on the evening of the 26th of last month at around 9:30 p.m., Kang lured victim A to his residence in Songpa-gu and demanded money under the pretext of a loan. When the victim refused, Kang strangled her to death. He had prepared a weapon and a cutter in advance.

He also took victim A’s credit card and used it six times, purchasing four mobile phones worth 5.96 million won and then disposing of them. On July 27th, Kang also opened two mobile phone lines worth approximately 3 million won without intending to pay the terminal fees, disposed of the phones, and provided the SIM cards to acquaintances.

After the first murder, on the 27th of last month at around 5:30 p.m., Kang stopped a rental car on a road in Songpa-gu, damaged the electronic anklet attached to his ankle with a cutter he had prepared in advance, and fled. Then, at around 3:30 a.m. on the 29th, he committed a second murder by strangling victim B in a car parked in Songpa-gu while demanding repayment of a debt.

Kang was arrested by the police and detained at the Seoul Songpa Police Station. On the 5th of this month at 9:34 p.m., when a police officer opened the door to change his blanket, Kang punched the officer in the face and assaulted another officer who tried to handcuff him by strangling him.

Kang was sentenced to five years in prison and placed under protective custody on July 22, 1997, for robbery and rape charges. While on parole from protective custody, he reoffended and was sentenced to 15 years in prison on March 8, 2006, for robbery under the Special Act on Aggravated Punishment, served his sentence, and was under re-execution of protective custody from October last year until he was released on parole on May 6 this year. Since then, he has been living with an electronic anklet attached. Kang is known to have 14 prior convictions.

From immediately after his release, Kang lived without a steady job, pretending to be wealthy to those around him, and it is understood that he financed entertainment expenses with money borrowed from others or bank loans. He also prepared an industrial cutter and a weapon just before the crimes and contacted acquaintances after the crimes to find ways to obtain cash using stolen credit cards, confirming that the crimes were committed in a planned manner.

However, the prosecution dismissed the charge of attempted murder applied by the police against Kang due to insufficient evidence. The police had applied this charge based on Kang’s contact with a third woman after fleeing with a weapon and cutter in his vehicle. The prosecution stated, "There is no evidence to suggest that he intended to kill or prepared to kill, and merely contacting someone does not constitute attempted murder."

Furthermore, the integrated psychological analysis by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office revealed that Kang has psychopathic tendencies. The prosecution explained, "Kang has a pervasive sense of victimization and anger toward laws and social systems, with a strong desire to manipulate victims as tools for sexual and economic exploitation. He lacks awareness of the problems with benefiting from criminal acts and shows excessive obsession and control over money." They added, "Although Kang claims mental illness, it is assessed that the manifestation of psychotic symptoms is unlikely and is considered behavior to avoid uncomfortable situations, so there is no indication of mental disability."

Since the incident, the prosecution has provided emergency support for funeral expenses and conducted meetings with the victims’ families immediately after Kang’s transfer. They have also supported the victims’ families through decisions on compensation payments. The prosecution stated, "We will make every effort to maintain the prosecution," and added, "We will closely cooperate with related organizations such as the Crime Victim Support Center to ensure the victims’ rights to testify in court and consider various forms of support, doing our best to assist the victims."