[Kim Hyo-jung Editor] A multi-millionaire’s murder case: Was it a crime of passion or a calculated execution?

The June 27th episode of SBS’s Unanswered Questions investigated a horrific murder case involving a man with assets worth over 10 billion KRW, titled "Between Two Graves – The Seocho Suitcase Murder Case."

On March 30th, a man identified as Lee was caught red-handed in Seocho-gu, Seoul, while attempting to dispose of his ex-wife’s body in a suitcase. Lee was previously known in his community as a "philanthropy king," and it was actually Lee himself who had reported the victim missing to the police after claiming he could not reach her. The stark contrast between his two faces was chilling.

The victim was his ex-wife, So-young, whom he had divorced just three months prior after 28 years of marriage. Lee claimed that during a heated argument over a property division lawsuit filed by So-young, he killed her in a moment of passion.

He alleged that after placing her body in a suitcase, he visited his parents' graves in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do, and Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do, before intending to take his own life.

However, the couple’s two sons were outraged, calling him a "devil" and a "psychopath." They revealed that while Lee played the role of a saint in public, he was a tyrant at home.

Furthermore, So-young and her sons had been unaware of the true extent of Lee’s wealth throughout their 22 years of marriage. It was discovered that Lee was a multi-millionaire with over 10 billion KRW in assets, including a building in Majang-dong inherited from his father in 2018, six studio apartments in prime Gangnam locations, and two apartments jointly owned with his ex-wife.

Despite earning an estimated 10 million KRW per month from real estate rentals without holding a formal job, Lee provided no living expenses to his wife. So-young had to work for years to support herself and her sons, earning approximately 600 million KRW on her own.

While preparing for the property division lawsuit, So-young had found rental contracts that suggested Lee’s wealth, but she never knew the full scale of his assets.

Lee received the property division lawsuit papers on March 9th. While he admitted to being stressed by his obsession with money, he denied it was the motive for the murder. He claimed that So-young had slapped him hard enough to knock his glasses off, which caused him to lose control.

However, evidence showed that Lee had wrapped the victim’s head in a plastic bag and tied her neck with a necktie before placing her in the suitcase. Experts noted, "He likely did this to ensure she was dead. The marks found during the autopsy indicate the tie was pulled very tightly. It is difficult to accept that there was no intent to kill when he assaulted her, strangled her, and then covered her head with a bag and tied it with a necktie."

It was also revealed that while transporting the body in the suitcase, Lee stopped at a restaurant near his home for breakfast and even chatted with a friend on the phone as if nothing had happened.

After his arrest, Lee sent letters to his sons that showed no remorse. Instead, he asked about the status of his assets and lectured his children.

During the investigation, another suspicious death in Lee’s circle came to light: his father, who died while taking a bath.

Lee’s son recalled that while Lee was transporting the body, he remarked, "Your grandfather’s case was also suspected, but it passed quietly. This will pass the same way."

In 2016, Lee sold his father’s Majang-dong building, valued at 3 billion KRW, citing his parents' health issues, which became the foundation for his current wealth. Afterward, he lived alone with his father in a Seocho-gu apartment, though the burden of care fell on So-young. His father, who was reportedly healthy, died suddenly.

Because no autopsy was performed at the time, the exact cause of death remains unknown. It was also revealed that Lee insisted on cremation despite his father’s wish to be buried.

Experts analyzed Lee’s comments to his son as a way of "showing that he can still control the situation. It sounds like a monologue to soothe himself."

In his letters from prison, Lee continued to threaten his sons, demanding they drop the property division lawsuit and instructing them to hire the best criminal defense attorneys for him.

An expert commented on his lack of remorse, stating, "He is only worried about the disadvantages he will face after killing his wife. To him, protecting his money is the most important thing."

Lee’s viewing habits also raised red flags. He had been watching an increasing amount of crime content, and the day before the crime, he watched 20 hours of crime-related videos. These videos included scenes of strangulation, covering a victim’s head with a plastic bag, and disposing of a body in a suitcase.

Experts pointed out, "This is crucial evidence that suggests the crime was premeditated."

So-young had even cared for her mother-in-law while she was ill, but Lee was only interested in his mother’s money. His mother’s diary expressed gratitude and apologies toward her daughter-in-law, who had even prepared her final meal.

Experts speculated, "To this man, his wife’s utility had decreased. Once his parents passed away, she no longer offered him any benefit, so he had no attachment to the relationship. He likely considered murder as a calculated option once the lawsuit began."

The sons were further enraged by Lee’s social media profile message, which he changed to "Rainbow Bridge" after the murder—a term often used for pets that have passed away. They wondered if he viewed their mother as nothing more than a pet.

Whenever the topic of money arose, Lee became stressed and irritable. Even in an interview with the production team, he complained about the stress of paying for his mother’s hospital bills, which he claimed cost 20 million KRW per admission.

Lee has now hired four defense attorneys. The program concluded by expressing its firm belief that the justice system will see through the actions of a man who betrayed his own family and ensure he receives the punishment he deserves.