'Peer Murder' Jeong Yoo-jeong, Two More Murder Attempts... 20s Woman and Teen Male Lured via App

Additional Preliminary Murder Charges Discovered... Referred to Prosecution

On May 26, an additional charge of attempted murder was discovered against Jeong Yujeong, who was arrested and indicted for killing a woman of the same age she met on an online app and mutilating the body.

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 12th that after investigating Jeong Yujeong's other crimes, they found an additional charge of attempted murder and sent the case to the prosecution.

According to the police, Jeong Yujeong lured a woman in her 20s, Ms. A, whom she met on the same app, to a walking trail in Buk-gu several days before the crime with the intent to kill her, but the attempt failed as pedestrians were passing by.

Later, she tried to lure a teenage male, Mr. B, whom she also met on the same app, through chat, but Mr. B sensed something suspicious in the conversation and did not show up at the crime scene, resulting in another failed attempt.

The police obtained search warrants for the suspect's internet posts and chat records, confirmed the victims' personal information, secured statements, and sent the case to the prosecution.

A police official said, "Jeong Yujeong currently denies the two charges," adding, "Based on digital forensic investigations, it appears she planned the murders and was presumed to have been carrying a weapon at the time, so the case was forwarded to the prosecution."

Jung Yoo-jung. [Image source=MBN news screen capture]

Jeong Yujeong, who was arrested and indicted on charges including murder, appeared with a court-appointed lawyer at the second pretrial hearing on the morning of August 28 and stated, "I admit to parts of the charges, but the motive and circumstances of the crime are not as stated," denying that the crime was premeditated.

Jeong Yujeong's defense attorney requested a closed hearing citing concerns about copycat crimes, but the court said it would consult with the judges and decide by the next hearing date. Jeong Yujeong's first trial is scheduled to take place on the 18th.