Arya News - A warrant was issued for the formal arrest of the suspect, who allegedly disguised himself as the victim to confuse police.
SEOUL – A Chinese university lecturer in his 30s has admitted to killing a 25-year-old Chinese student in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, police said Thursday, as a court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Gyeongsan Police Station said the suspect, surnamed Jeong, had admitted to key parts of the allegations, including killing the woman in the early hours of Aug. 20.
Jeong is accused of murder, mutilating the victim’s body and disposing of parts of it.
He reportedly told investigators that he strangled the victim. Police said Jeong has been cooperative with the investigation and has given statements about the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The Daegu District Court issued an arrest warrant Thursday, citing concerns that Jeong could flee.
The victim, a Chinese student, was last seen on surveillance footage outside Jeong’s studio apartment in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, at around 2 a.m. that day. She reportedly last made contact with family in China at around the same time.
The footage did not show Jeong forcibly taking her into the home, and she was not seen leaving afterward.
Police said an autopsy is needed to determine the time and cause of death.
Investigators identified indications that Jeong mutilated and disposed of the victim’s body and are considering additional related charges. Police have been tracing his movements and checking locations believed to be connected to the disposal of the body.
Investigators believe Jeong also tried to make it appear that the victim had left his home on her own.
At around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, a person wearing the victim’s clothes was captured on security footage heading to Dongdaegu Station. Police later determined that the person was Jeong.
He allegedly disguised himself in women’s clothing, took the victim’s suitcase and cellphone to the station, turned off the phone there and then returned to his home in Gyeongsan.
The following day, Jeong called police himself and reported the victim missing, allegedly pretending to be her boyfriend and saying he had not heard from her since she left for Daegu.
Police are investigating Jeong on suspicion of obstruction of official duties by deception in connection with the missing person report.
Police became suspicious while questioning Jeong and later found the victim’s body at his home. Jeong was apprehended at around 7:29 p.m. Tuesday on a street in Hayang-eup.
Police applied for a warrant for his detention on Wednesday, citing concerns he could flee or destroy evidence. The Daegu District Court held a hearing on the warrant at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Jeong worked as an outside lecturer at a graduate school in Gyeongsan that was also attended by the victim.
The woman, who had been working in China, entered Korea on Aug. 14 to receive documents related to her degree, according to police.
Police are still trying to clarify the motive and circumstances surrounding the killing.
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