A man in his 40s suspected of breaking into the home of actor Kim Gyu-ri and committing robbery [Yonhap·Herald Muse]
A man in his 40s suspected of breaking into the home of actor Kim Gyu-ri and committing robbery [Yonhap·Herald Muse]

A man arrested and referred to prosecutors on charges of breaking into actor Kim Gyu-ri's home and committing robbery was already standing trial for a separate break-in at broadcaster Seo Dong-ju's residence when he carried out the attack.

According to MBN, the man, identified only as A, was in his 40s and was apprehended earlier this year after attempting to break into Seo's home.

Police had sought an arrest warrant and a provisional measure — a Level 4 stalking restriction order allowing pretrial detention — against A on charges of residential trespass and stalking at Seo's home. The court rejected the arrest warrant.

Released without detention and referred to trial, A broke into Kim's home in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at around 9 p.m. on May 20 and committed the crime.

A is accused of forcing his way into the home where Kim and an acquaintance were staying, assaulting them and demanding valuables. Kim and her companion managed to escape while A's attention lapsed, but both sustained injuries including fractures and bruises.

Once police began tracking him, A turned himself in at his residence in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. During the police investigation, he reportedly said he had identified the location of Kim's home by watching a YouTube video in which the house appeared.

The court issued an arrest warrant for A on May 22, citing the risk of flight.


bbo@heraldcorp.com