"Kim Hoon, Namyangju Stalking Murder Suspect, Diagnosed as Psychopath... Prosecutors Indict Under Detention"

Six Charges Including Retaliatory Murder Applied
Evidence of Meticulous Premeditation, Such as Searching How to Cut Off Electronic Ankle Monitor
Psychopathy Test Score of 33... Far Exceeding Diagnostic Threshold

Kim Hoon, the suspect in the Namyangju stalking murder case in Gyeonggi Province, was indicted and brought to trial under detention on April 8. It was revealed that Kim had been diagnosed as a psychopath (antisocial personality disorder).

Stalker Murderer Kim Hoon in Namyangju. Provided by Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency

The Criminal Division 1 of the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors’ Office (headed by Chief Prosecutor Park Soo) announced that day that Kim Hoon had been indicted and detained on six charges, including retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, special destruction of property, and violation of the Act on the Attachment of Electronic Devices.

Kim Hoon is accused of murdering a woman he had previously dated with a weapon he had prepared in advance, on a street in Namyangju at 8:57 a.m. on March 14.

According to the investigation, Kim broke the driver's window of the victim's car with an electric drill, committed the crime, and then immediately cut off his electronic ankle monitor and escaped using a rental car with a temporary license plate.

At the time, Kim was already on trial for injuring the victim in May of the previous year. After the victim moved her residence, Kim attached a GPS tracking device to her and continued stalking her, which led to an additional complaint being filed against him in February this year. Prosecutors determined that Kim committed the act of retaliation because he was concerned that the victim would not withdraw the complaint and due to unfavorable testimony against him in the assault case.

It was previously reported that the victim had repeatedly reported dating violence. In May of last year, she called 112 and said, "I was beaten after fighting with my boyfriend since early morning," "He tried to kill me with a weapon," and "I ran away because my boyfriend was drunk and asleep."

Through a supplementary investigation, prosecutors also confirmed evidence of meticulous premeditation. Before the crime, Kim searched on a portal site for the victim's workplace, the crime location, and sunrise times, and prepared weapons and tools in advance. To conceal the crime, he additionally tinted the rental car and attached a temporary license plate, and it was also revealed that he searched on his mobile phone for "how to evade electronic ankle monitor tracking."

Notably, an integrated psychological analysis by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office showed that Kim Hoon scored 33 points out of 40 on the psychopathy rating scale, exceeding the diagnostic threshold of 25 points. This is a higher level compared to other major offenders such as Yoo Young-chul (38 points), Lee Eun-hae (31 points), and Jeong Nam-gyu (29 points).

A prosecution official stated, "This case has been confirmed as an extremely retaliatory act stemming from feelings of betrayal and hostility toward the victim," adding, "We will do our utmost during the trial process to ensure that the defendant receives a sentence commensurate with the crime."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.