Followers of "Gangbuk Motel Killer" Surge 50-Fold... "Pretty, So Innocent?" Sparks Perpetrator-Glorification Controversy

A flood of comments praising her looks and calling for leniency
Warnings over “distorting the crime” and secondary victimization
Similar cases emerging recently in Japan
“Hybristophilia” back in the spotlight

As the personal details of the suspect Kim (22) in the “Gangbuk motel drug death case” spread online, an unexpected controversy over “glorifying the perpetrator” has erupted. After a social media (SNS) account believed to belong to Kim was shared, comments praising Kim’s looks or defending the crime poured in, and the number of followers even surged by a factor of 50. As a result, concerns are growing that the essence of the case is being obscured and that this could lead to secondary harm against the victim and the bereaved family.

Fifty-fold increase in followers in ten days... Shocking comment: "Maybe only 1 out of 100 men would refuse?"

On February 24, an Instagram account believed to be Kim’s was rapidly spreading across online communities. The number of followers of the account increased from around 200 about ten days ago to the 10,000 range as of that evening, a roughly 50-fold jump.

One netizen, referring to Kim’s SNS, wrote, “She has a pretty face, dresses well, has many interests, and just looks like an ordinary woman of that age who wants to date.” The post continued, “Among all those photos, there is not a single one taken with someone else. There are hundreds of posts in the feed, and every one of them is taken alone,” adding, “If she had even one or two close friends she could really open up to, I don’t think she would have become such a monster,” posting a message that appeared to gloss over and sympathize with Kim’s wrongdoing.

Comments defending the suspect in the "Gangbuk Motel Drug-Related Death Case." Online community

In addition, there were reactions such as “She’s pretty, so she’s innocent,” “If it were me, I would drink the beverage right away,” “She is truly beautiful. Her eyes are sharp yet lovely,” “The court should take her looks into account when sentencing,” “Let’s all set up a fundraising account,” “Honestly, I don’t know what she did that was so wrong,” and “If a woman like that was the one suggesting going to a motel first, I doubt there would be even 1 man out of 100 who would refuse.”

Kim has been arrested on charges of handing beverages containing benzodiazepine-based drugs to three men in their 20s, causing the deaths of two of them. Her boyfriend, who was the target of the first crime, lost consciousness after drinking the beverage and was taken to the hospital, where he recovered. After that, she is believed to have carried out a second and third crime using the same method. The second and third victims both died.

The police conducted a psychopathy assessment on Kim, and the results are expected to come out as early as the latter part of this week. The police are currently launching a full-scale investigation into everyone who contacted Kim in a similar manner, on the assumption that there may be additional crimes.

In Japan, “the most beautiful criminal” also in the spotlight

Recently in Japan, the suspect in the Tokyo Ikebukuro prostitution case, who was arrested in October last year, has become a hot topic for being called "the most beautiful criminal." QAB NEWS

In Japan as well, the appearance of a suspect in a recent prostitution case in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, has become a hot topic. On Japanese social media and other platforms, some are calling the suspect “the most beautiful criminal,” and even using AI to create animations, in a phenomenon that praises her looks.

Some observers analyze this as a manifestation of “hybristophilia,” a phenomenon of feeling attracted to criminals. “Hybristophilia” is a term describing a tendency to feel sexual or emotional attraction to, or to sympathize with, people who have committed serious crimes, and it has been repeatedly observed in cases involving serial killers and other violent offenders. Key drivers are said to include a fantasy of “saving” the criminal, a desire for fame, a preference for a strong partner, and the thrill felt in dangerous relationships, all interacting in a complex way.

Concerns over “distortion of the essence of the case” and secondary harm

Experts point out that when a perpetrator’s appearance and image are excessively consumed, the essence of the case can be distorted. They also stress that expressions that dilute or glamorize the seriousness of the crime are highly likely to lead to secondary harm against the victims and their families. Experts say, “Both in crime reporting and in online discourse, a victim-centered perspective must be maintained,” adding, “Sensational consumption surrounding the perpetrator can distort the essence of the case and dull society’s sense of empathy and responsibility.”