The identity of Kim Sung-woo, 26, the suspect in the killing of his mother-in-law and abduction of his wife in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 11, was made public Monday. [Yonhap]
The identity of Kim Sung-woo, 26, the suspect in the killing of his mother-in-law and abduction of his wife in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 11, was made public Monday. [Yonhap]

Police have publicly identified Kim Sung-woo, 26, the suspect detained on charges of killing his mother-in-law and abducting his wife in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency convened an identity disclosure review committee Monday afternoon and voted to release Kim's name, age and mugshot in connection with charges including aggravated homicide of a relative and unlawful confinement.

The committee determined that the severity of the harm and the cruelty of the methods used were evident, and that sufficient evidence existed to substantiate the charges. It also concluded that disclosure was necessary to serve the public interest, including the prevention of reoffending and deterrence of future crimes.

Kim's personal information will be posted on the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's website for 30 days beginning at 6 p.m. Monday.

Kim is accused of going to his wife's family home in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, at around 5:38 a.m. on Oct. 11 and stabbing his mother-in-law, who was in her 50s, with a bladed weapon before forcing his wife into a vehicle and driving away. The mother-in-law was transported to a hospital in cardiac arrest and later died.

Kim fled toward Gangwon Province with his wife and was arrested the same day at a wooded hillside in Yangyang-gun. A court issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday.

Police are leaning toward the possibility that the attack was premeditated, citing evidence that Kim waited near the scene for about four hours while armed with a bladed weapon.

Kim has claimed he acted out of resentment toward his estranged wife but insisted he had not targeted his mother-in-law, calling the attack impulsive. He reportedly told investigators he drove his wife to Yangyang because he panicked and wanted to get some air.

The victim's family contends that Kim carried out the attack in retaliation for his wife's domestic violence report against him and her lawsuit to have their marriage annulled. Police are also focusing their investigation on whether the crime was retaliatory. Kim had previously been booked on charges of repeatedly assaulting his wife.

Police plan to transfer Kim to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in custody Tuesday morning.


dbsdn1110@heraldcorp.com