After Killing Live-in Partner and Burying in Cement, the Truth Revealed 16 Years Later

First Trial: "Admits to the Crime"

A man accused of killing his cohabiting partner in Geoje, Gyeongnam, and hiding her body by pouring cement over it on the rooftop of their residence for 16 years has admitted to all charges.

According to Yonhap News on the 31st, Mr. A, in his 50s, admitted to all charges at the first trial held on the 31st. Mr. A's lawyer stated at the first trial of this case, held under the Criminal Division 1 of Tongyeong Branch, Changwon District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Young-seok), "He admits all the facts alleged by the prosecution."

The scene of a rooftop veranda in a multi-family house in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam, where a body buried in cement was discovered after 16 years. A man in his 50s, who was arrested on suspicion of murdering the woman he was living with at the time, has been detained and prosecuted.
[Photo by Geoje Police Station]

Mr. A worked as a nightclub employee and began a relationship with Ms. B (34 years old at the time of death), a customer. From May 2007, they started living together in a rooftop room in Geoje City. Later, in October 2008, he was indicted on charges including murder for killing his cohabiting partner Ms. B (then in her 30s) in a multi-family house in Geoje City, Gyeongnam, placing her body in a travel bag, and burying it by pouring cement on the rooftop of their residence.

The prosecution believes that Mr. A committed the crime in a fit of rage after arguing with Ms. B over relationship issues on the day of the incident. It is known that Mr. A placed the deceased Ms. B's body in a travel bag, moved it to the veranda of their residence, concealed it by pouring cement, and lived there for eight years until his arrest in 2016 for drug use.

This crime was uncovered in August this year when the owner of the one-room building was conducting leak repairs and discovered part of Ms. B's body. Last month, the building owner called a maintenance worker to carry out concrete demolition work on the veranda for leak repairs. At that time, a travel bag containing the body was found.

After receiving the report, the police formed a dedicated investigation team and confirmed that the body was Ms. B, who had lived at the address since 2006 and was reported missing in 2011. An autopsy later determined the cause of death as head trauma caused by blunt force. The police identified Mr. A, Ms. B's cohabiting partner, as a suspect and arrested him on September 19 at his residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam.

Additionally, Mr. A is also charged with purchasing methamphetamine via Telegram and using it four times in August this year.

The next trial for this case is scheduled for 2 p.m. on November 25.