'Woman Murdered Under Protection' Kim Byung-chan Repeats "I'm Sorry"... Sent to Prosecution (Summary)

At around 8 a.m. on the 29th, leaving Seoul Namdaemun Police Station
Consistently indifferent attitude... Boarded the escort vehicle wearing a mask
Police judge it as retaliatory crime after stalking report on the 7th of this month

The suspect Kim Byung-chan, who was receiving personal protection due to stalking, is being transferred to the prosecution at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station on the 29th. Kim is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend A at an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul, with a weapon around 11:30 a.m. on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The police have determined that Kim Byung-chan (35, in custody), who killed a woman under protective custody, committed the crime as retaliation for a stalking report.

On the 29th, the police applied eight charges against Kim, including retaliatory murder and retaliatory threats under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Special Act), violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, injury, trespassing, special threats, threats, and special confinement, and sent him to the prosecution. A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official in charge of the investigation said, "We are judging that (Kim’s crime) was retaliation for the stalking report made by victim A on the 7th," adding, "Based on the forensic analysis of his mobile phone, we closely examined the tools and methods of the crime searched after the 7th."

Initially, Kim was charged with murder, but the police changed the charge to murder by retaliation under the Special Act, considering that Kim’s motive was retaliation for being reported to the police for stalking. According to the law, a person who kills another with the intent to retaliate against complaints, accusations, statements, or testimonies related to criminal investigations shall be punished by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for ten years or more. Murder under the Special Act can result in heavier penalties than murder under the Criminal Act.

The suspect Kim Byung-chan, who was receiving personal protection due to stalking, is being transferred to the prosecution at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station on the 29th. Kim is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend A at an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul, with a weapon around 11:30 a.m. on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

During the police investigation, Kim reportedly claimed the crime was impulsive. A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said, "(Regarding why Kim Byung-chan stalked the victim) he said he wanted to resolve the parts he was wrong about, such as the stalking report," adding, "Stalking perpetrators tend to think on their own that ‘if we talk, it can be resolved’ or ‘it’s not a bad relationship,’ even if they have done wrong."

Kim, who appeared for the first time after his identity was disclosed upon transfer to the prosecution that day, repeatedly said, "I am sorry." As he left the detention center at Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul, he repeatedly responded to reporters’ questions such as "Do you have anything to say to the victim?", "Do you admit this was a planned crime?", and "Do you have no remorse for the bereaved family?" with "I am sorry," and "I am truly, truly sorry." Wearing a thick coat and a mask, Kim bowed his head deeply and got into the escort vehicle immediately despite repeated questions from the press.

Kim was arrested on the 22nd on suspicion of stabbing and killing a woman in her 30s, A, who lived in an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul, around 11:30 a.m. on the 19th of this month. A, who was reportedly a former lover of Kim, had reported him to the police four times since the 7th of this month.