Songpa Murder of Mother-in-Law and Kidnapping of Wife: Identity of 26-Year-Old Kim Sung-woo Revealed

The identity of 26-year-old Kim Sung-woo, the suspect in the murder of his mother-in-law and the kidnapping of his wife that occurred in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on October 11, was revealed on October 19.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency held a disclosure deliberation committee today (October 19) and released the name, age, and mugshot of Kim Sung-woo, who has been arrested on charges including parricide and special confinement.

The committee determined that the methods of the crime were brutal, the resulting damage was severe, and there was sufficient evidence to prove the crime.

It also concluded that the disclosure of identity was necessary for the public interest, such as preventing recidivism and deterring crime.

Accordingly, Kim Sung-woo's identity will be posted on the website of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for 30 days starting at 6 p.m. today.

Under the Act on the Disclosure of Identity of Suspects in Certain Heinous Crimes, identity information may be disclosed when the crime involves brutal methods and serious damage, and the suspect's guilt is sufficiently proven.

Kim Sung-woo is accused of visiting his wife's family home in Songpa-gu at around 5:38 a.m. on October 11, stabbing his mother-in-law in her 50s with a weapon, and forcing his wife into a car to kidnap her.

The mother-in-law was found at the scene in a state of cardiac arrest and was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police are focusing on the possibility of a premeditated crime, noting that Kim waited near the family home for about four hours with a weapon before committing the act.

The bereaved family members claimed that he committed the crime in retaliation for his wife reporting him for domestic violence and filing a lawsuit to nullify their marriage, and the police are also focusing on proving this retaliatory motive.

Police plan to transfer Kim Sung-woo to the prosecutors' office on the morning of October 20.

(Photo: Capture of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency website)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.