Suspect in 'Saengsubyeong Incident' Purchased Poison Online... Police Investigating Motive

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Regarding the incident in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where two employees lost consciousness after drinking water from bottled water, the police are focusing their investigation on confirming the purchase details of poison by the suspect, Kang Mo (35), who is an employee of the same company, and on identifying the motive for the crime.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated at a press briefing held on the 25th at the Seoul Police Agency in Naejadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, that "Kang purchased the poison online, and we have confirmed the purchase details through his mobile phone and laptop."

The official added, "It is difficult to say 'this is the motive' based solely on witness statements, and there are no writings left by Kang related to the crime," and said, "We will proceed further with digital forensics and interviews with related parties."

Among the male and female employees who were victims, the male employee who was unconscious and hospitalized in the intensive care unit passed away on the 23rd. The police have requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service. If the autopsy confirms that the poison was the direct cause of death, the charges will be amended. Toxic chemical substances were detected in the blood of one of the two collapsed employees, and the same substance was reportedly found at Kang’s residence.

Kang had gone to work normally on the 18th, the day the incident occurred, but was absent without leave the next day and was later found dead at home after ingesting poison.

At the same company, another incident occurred on the 10th, where a different employee collapsed after drinking a beverage but recovered after treatment. The same poison was detected in the beverage that employee consumed.

Meanwhile, regarding the incident of personal information leakage of customers at a luxury jewelry store in a department store in Gangnam, the police are analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.

The Gangnam Police Station received a report that a list containing personal information of VIP customers was leaked from the store and has launched an investigation to examine the details and scope of the leak.