Ripley Syndrome, Occupational Murder... The True Colors of Lee Gi-yeong as Seen by Experts

"Lie as often as eating" "Treat crime like a business"
"A professional criminal who thinks of crime as a business"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The movements and criminal characteristics of Lee Gi-young, who was arrested on charges of consecutively murdering a taxi driver and his cohabiting woman, are gradually coming to light. Experts have analyzed two key traits of Lee: the 'Ripley syndrome' symptom of believing fictional worlds as truth and lying habitually, and the image of a 'professional criminal' who views crime as a kind of business.

Lee has habitually lied to those around him. Five days after murdering the taxi driver, on the 25th of last month, he approached unknown young men claiming to buy them meat and reportedly flaunted his wealth by saying he owned several buildings.

Also, a gas inspector who said he had visited Lee's residence revealed in a media interview that "Lee boasted that he inherited a large sum of money after his parents passed away, enabling him to purchase an apartment in Seoul."

Lee Ki-young (31), who was arrested on charges of murdering his cohabiting partner and a taxi driver, is being transferred to the prosecution from Ilsan Dongbu Police Station in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, it has been identified that after completing his military service, Lee had no special job and worked as a day laborer. Lee, who has four prior convictions for drunk driving, was revealed to have received the minimum sentence in court due to financial hardship. Lee has also caused confusion in the investigation by changing the location where he disposed of the cohabiting woman's body.

According to experts' analysis, Lee exhibits symptoms of Ripley syndrome, characterized by habitual lying. Professor Lee Su-jeong of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University analyzed in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 4th, "(Lee) keeps changing his statements. He shows quite psychopathic tendencies and often displays an attitude of lying as if it were a daily routine."

There is also an analysis that Lee seems to regard crime as a profession for his own profit-seeking. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University evaluated in an interview with MBC Radio's 'News High Kick' that "It appears he has entered the path of a professional criminal who thinks of crime as a business."

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk continued, "He kills with a blunt weapon and uses the credit cards and various monetary gains obtained through it for his own pleasure and profit-seeking. Then he boasts about it to those around him," adding, "This behavior, as if celebrating a business contract, shows that he instrumentally uses murder."