"Failed Stock Investment, Too Scared to Die Alone": Man in 30s Arrested for Murdering Japanese Woman

A man in his 30s suspected of murdering a Japanese national he previously knew has been taken into custody.

Judge Noh Seung-wook, the warrant judge at the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court, issued an arrest warrant after holding a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review) for suspect A, who faces murder charges, starting at around 11:00 a.m. today (October 30).

Judge Noh stated the reason for issuing the warrant, citing "concerns that the suspect may attempt to flee."

Earlier that morning, suspect A appeared at the Cheonan Branch for the warrant hearing, wearing a cap pulled down low and his face concealed by a white mask.

He bowed his head and remained silent, refusing to answer questions from reporters regarding his motive for the crime and whether he felt any remorse toward the victim.

Suspect A is accused of wielding a weapon to kill a victim in her 20s of Japanese nationality, identified as B, inside an officetel in Dajeong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, at around 4:20 p.m. on October 28, and subsequently fleeing the scene.

According to police investigations, A visited B's residence carrying a weapon he had prepared in advance and attacked her. At the time, B was reportedly making a phone call to an acquaintance to ask for help.

Police, responding to a report from B's acquaintance, tracked his escape routes and arrested A at around 1:06 a.m. on October 29 at a lodging facility in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.

Police investigations revealed that the two knew each other and had met twice this year, but were not in a romantic relationship.

It was also confirmed that there were no prior reports related to stalking.

During police questioning, A reportedly stated, "I suffered losses from failed stock investments and saw no future, so I decided to end my life. I was too scared to die alone, and B, whom I knew, came to mind, so I tried to die together with her."

(Photo: Provided by reader, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.