Identity of Kwon Jongpil, 43, Suspected of Killing Ex-Partner a Year After Stalking Report, Released

Kwon Jongpil Also Claims, "It Was an Impulsive Crime"

The identity of Kwon Jongpil (43), who is suspected of murdering a former partner about a year after she reported him for stalking, has been made public.

Identity of Suspect in Murder of Former Partner After 'Stalking Report' Made Public in Daejeon

Kwon Jongpil (43), suspect in the murder of his former partner following a stalking report in Daejeon. Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency

According to Yonhap News Agency on November 9, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency published the name, age and mugshot of Kwon Jongpil, who was transferred to prosecutors in custody on charges including murder, on the National Police Agency's website. His information will remain public from today through December 9.

Police had previously convened a personal information disclosure review committee on November 2 and decided to disclose Kwon Jongpil's identity. The committee voted to make the information public after considering the brutality of the crime, the severity of the harm, the sufficiency of the evidence and the bereaved family's views.

However, after Kwon Jongpil challenged the disclosure decision, police waited for the required period of at least five days under the Act on the Disclosure of Personal Information of Suspects in Specific Serious Crimes (Serious Crimes Suspect Disclosure Act) before publishing his information today. This is the first time in one year and three months that the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency has disclosed a suspect's identity, since Jang Jaewon, who murdered a former partner in Goejeong-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, in August 2025.

Fled to Incheon and Gangneung After Removing SIM Card

Kwon Jongpil is suspected of beating and strangling Ms. A, a woman in her 40s, to death at her home in Jung-gu, Daejeon, around midday on October 24, then fleeing the scene. After removing the SIM card from his phone, he headed to Incheon International Airport by taxi before fleeing to Gangneung. He was arrested there the following day at a lodging establishment.

Kwon Jongpil claimed during police questioning that the crime was impulsive. Police are investigating whether it was premeditated and determining his precise motive, using digital forensics on his phone and the assistance of a profiler.

In October 2025, Ms. A reported Kwon Jongpil to the 112 emergency number for stalking, but the case was closed without referral for prosecution in November that year after she said she did not want him punished. In December that year, another 112 call was received during an argument between the two. When they told the responding officers that "the 112 call was made accidentally during a minor argument," police concluded there were no indications of a crime and closed the matter at the scene.

On November 3, police transferred Kwon Jongpil to the Public Prosecution Office in custody on charges including murder, but did not disclose the specific charges.

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