Openly Kidnapped in a Remote Area with Few Outsiders
Escaped Using a Rare Car Model Easy to Track
Suspicion of Murder Despite Financial Motive
On the 29th of last month, the kidnapping and murder case in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, was announced by the police on the 1st as a planned crime targeting cryptocurrency (coins). However, numerous unresolved questions remain from the police announcement that day, such as the kidnappers' behavior differing from typical violent criminals, how they learned that the victim possessed a large amount of coins, why they committed murder immediately after targeting the coins, and the possibility of a contract killing.
The scene of the kidnapping incident that occurred around 11:46 PM on the 29th of last month at an apartment complex in Gangnam-gu. The kidnapper's vehicle is parked.
Among the three perpetrators who committed the crime, two kidnapped the female victim in front of an apartment in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 11:46 p.m. on the 29th of last month, then killed her near Daejeon, abandoned the body, and fled, but were urgently arrested by the police on the 31st. One accomplice was also apprehended that day.
◆Why did they take her to the provinces and kill her despite targeting money? = First, there is a call for the police to accurately verify whether the motive of targeting coins is correct. There is no evidence yet that the victim’s money fell into the hands of the perpetrators. If the crime was for financial gain, it is suspicious that they moved to the provinces via the highway, where their route could be easily tracked, immediately after kidnapping, and that they killed the victim shortly thereafter. Conversely, if the perpetrators received money from the victim, the situation becomes even more complicated. Since the suspects stated that they targeted cryptocurrency, if they hid the defrauded cryptocurrency before being caught, tracking and recovering it would be difficult.
◆How did they know the victim had a lot of coins? = Also, the specific reason why the perpetrators chose the victim as their target has not been revealed. When planning a crime targeting valuables, the perpetrators usually gather detailed information about the target’s financial status and surroundings in advance. In this case, how did they know beforehand how much property and cryptocurrency the victim had, and whether the victim was a feasible target? To resolve these questions, there is a suggestion to investigate whether there is a 'fourth mastermind' behind the kidnappers. CCTV footage shows that when unfamiliar perpetrators appeared and grabbed the victim, she did not seem confused or surprised but resisted strongly as if anticipating a threat to her safety.
◆Why use a conspicuous car model for the kidnapping? = Whether this was a contract crime is also a key question. The suspects appear to have carefully prepared for the crime, using a Veloster as the kidnapping vehicle. The Veloster is a '2+1 door' model with only one rear door on the passenger side, so there is no door behind the driver’s seat. If one of the two kidnappers drives, the victim is seated behind the driver, and the other kidnapper sits behind the passenger seat, the victim cannot open the car door to escape. Questions arise as to whether the perpetrators were commissioned to kidnap and kill from the start and deliberately used a Veloster with only one rear door.
◆Clumsy kidnapping behavior for a planned crime = On the other hand, if the kidnapping was not thoroughly planned from the beginning to take the victim’s life, many 'clumsy' aspects are found in the perpetrators’ behavior. Kidnappers and violent criminals usually prepare to avoid attracting attention. However, the Veloster is a rare car model, making it more noticeable and easy to track. Also, the kidnapping location is a residential area in Gangnam-gu densely packed with luxury apartment complexes, where outsiders are rare and it is quiet at night. There is a convenience store directly opposite the crime scene, so residents come and go even late at night. Therefore, beating and kidnapping someone here easily draws attention. The perpetrators dragged the struggling victim and put her in the car, ignoring her cries for help. In fact, on the day of the crime, a 112 emergency call was received immediately after the kidnapping reporting "two men beating a woman and putting her in a vehicle."
The police stated at a briefing on the 1st, "We are examining various motives for the crime." They added, "One of the suspects testified that he participated in the crime on the condition that his debt of 36 million won would be paid off, but the actual amount received will be confirmed later."
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