Husband Who Even Acted as Chief Mourner for Deceased Wife... Turns Out to Be the Murderer

Statement Claims "Impulsive Act While Drinking"

A man in his 30s who killed his wife just three months after their marriage, concealed the crime, and even served as the chief mourner has been indicted.

According to multiple media reports including JTBC, the Gangseo Police Station in Seoul recently sent Mr. Seo, a man in his 30s, to the prosecution with a request for indictment on murder charges on the 20th of last month. Subsequently, on the 8th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office reportedly formally indicted Mr. Seo while he was in custody.

Mr. Seo is accused of killing his wife, Ms. A, at their newlywed home located in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 13th of last month, just three months after their marriage. At the time of the crime, he was reportedly intoxicated.

The suspect Seo Mo (left) shown by the victim's bereaved family. Photo by JTBC

On the day of the incident, he is said to have called his mother-in-law and said, "After leaving for work in the morning, I came to the newlywed home and found my wife not breathing." He also reportedly spoke in a choked voice, saying, "I don't know why (she did that)," and "Nothing serious happened." Afterwards, Mr. Seo took on the role of chief mourner at Ms. A's funeral and calmly received condolences.

However, Mr. Seo was urgently arrested by the police on the 15th of last month, just one day after the funeral parlor was set up. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly told the bereaved family, "Mother (mother-in-law), I will be back."

During the police investigation, Mr. Seo initially vehemently denied the crime, but eventually admitted to it after the police presented evidence such as wounds on the victim Ms. A's body. He reportedly stated to the police that "he committed the crime impulsively while drinking."

Additionally, the police investigation revealed that immediately after the crime, Mr. Seo deleted the home CCTV application ('home cam' app) and also removed the SIM card from Ms. A's mobile phone.

The bereaved family told JTBC, showing Ms. A's face, "We hope the unjust death of (our daughter) will be known to the world. We want Mr. Seo to pay for his crime."

Meanwhile, the case has been assigned to the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Jang Chan), and the date for the first trial has not yet been set.