South Korean police release identity of Seongnam retaliatory murder suspect

South Korean authorities have released the identity of Kim Sang-su, a 52-year-old man accused of retaliatory murder in Seongnam. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced that Kim’s name, age, and photograph will be displayed on its website for 30 days, following a decision by a deliberation committee.

Kim is accused of killing a woman in her 60s, his former partner of four years, on a street in Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, on May 5. Investigations revealed that the victim had previously filed a complaint against Kim for violating stalking laws after he repeatedly contacted her via text and phone calls.

Police determined that Kim prepared for the attack by purchasing a weapon after his stalking case was referred to the prosecution. On the day of the incident, he reportedly waited near the victim’s workplace before attacking her. While Kim initially claimed the crime was impulsive, police upgraded the charge from murder to retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, which carries heavier penalties including life imprisonment or death.

Following the attack, Kim attempted self-harm and underwent a month of medical treatment. He was arrested upon his discharge from the hospital and subsequently transferred to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.