March 2002 MBC 'Love House' Appearance
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Lee Eun-hae (31, female), who was under investigation for killing her husband in a valley in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and fled during the investigation, has become a topic of discussion for remarks she made 20 years ago on a variety show.
In March 2002, Lee appeared on MBC's variety program 'Love House' with her disabled parents. Love House was a program hosted by broadcaster Shin Dong-yup that renovated the homes of families facing financial difficulties.
During the broadcast, Lee said, "I don't have my own room because I have to store my parents' wheelchairs," and "I share a room with my parents, and I'm sorry because I have bad sleeping habits." The hosts praised her, saying, "You are really admirable."
After the home renovation was completed, she said, "It's the first time I've seen my parents talk so much and cry like today," and added, "When I grow up, I want to give back to others in need as much as I have received," which moved many viewers.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Division 2 of Incheon District Prosecutors' Office announced that they had issued arrest warrants for Lee and her accomplice Jo Hyun-soo (30) on charges of murder and placed them on the wanted list. The two, known to be in a romantic relationship, are accused of killing Lee's husband, Mr. A (39 at the time of death), in June 2019 at Yongsogyeok Valley in Gapyeong.
The prosecution believes they killed Mr. A by forcing him, who could not swim, to dive into the valley and then failing to rescue him.
Earlier that year, in February, the two attempted to kill Mr. A by feeding him food mixed with pufferfish poison at a pension in Yangyang County, Gangwon Province, but the toxicity was below a lethal dose, resulting in an attempted murder. Three months later, they tried to drown Mr. A at a fishing spot in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, but were caught by an acquaintance who woke up.
The prosecution believes the two killed Mr. A for the 800 million won life insurance money taken out in his name. In fact, Lee filed a claim for her husband's insurance money five months after his death but was denied by the insurance company. It is reported that the insurance company refused payment due to suspicion of fraud during the review process.
After Mr. A's death, the Gapyeong Police Station initially closed the case as an unattended death, but in October 2019, a family acquaintance reported it to the Ilsan Western Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, prompting a reinvestigation. The prosecution conducted searches of Lee and Jo's homes for nine months, carried out three site inspections, and investigated about 30 related individuals.
Lee and Jo first appeared for questioning at the prosecution on December 13 last year, but fled before their second scheduled interrogation the next day and have been missing for three months.
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