The Chinese lecturer suspected of killing a Chinese international student is escorted to Gyeongsan Police Station in North Gyeongsang on Aug. 25.YONHAP
A Chinese man accused of killing a Chinese international student in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang, confessed to part of the allegations against him during police questioning.
The man, who taught at the university the student was enrolled in, told police that he killed the student in the early hours of Aug. 20, the Gyeongsan Police Station said Thursday.
The victim entered Korea from China on Aug. 14 to attend a graduation ceremony at their graduate school, and was last seen on surveillance footage at around 2 a.m. on Aug. 20 outside the lecturer's home. Police confirmed that the victim did not appear to have been forcibly taken inside.
Police believe the lecturer killed the victim inside his home. Further examination, including an autopsy, is needed to determine the exact time and manner of death. Police are discussing when to conduct the autopsy.
Investigators believe the lecturer put on women's clothing after the killing and traveled to Daegu with the victim's mobile phone in an attempt to throw off the investigation. The lecturer turned off the victim's phone at Dongdaegu Station, changed into men's clothing in a nearby restroom and returned home.
The following day, the lecturer reported the victim missing to police, identifying himself as the victim's boyfriend. He said the student "went missing after going to Daegu," and police believe the report was also intended to mislead investigators.
The lecturer's attempt to commit a "perfect crime" failed as police uncovered evidence pointing to him during the investigation. After identifying him as the prime suspect, police executed an arrest warrant and apprehended him on a street in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, at around 7:29 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Chinese lecturer accused of killing a Chinese international student is escorted to Gyeongsan Police Station after being arrested on Aug. 25.NEWS1
Police conducted an on-site examination after apprehending the lecturer and transported him to the Gyeongsan Police Station at around 11:50 p.m. that day. Police sought a detention warrant on Wednesday afternoon. A hearing on the warrant was held at the Daegu District Court on Thursday morning, with a decision on whether to detain him expected later in the day.
Police are also searching for parts of the victim's body that are believed to have been separated from the body after the killing.
The suspect currently works for a company based outside Gyeongsan, but also taught as a lecturer at the graduate school attended by the victim.
He taught two courses during the spring semester, including neuroanatomy. He had been scheduled to teach two courses, including human anatomy and musculoskeletal disorders and treatment, in the fall semester. The victim had previously taken one of the lecturer's courses.
Messages of condolence have spread online following news of the victim's death, while calls are growing for a thorough investigation and severe punishment of the lecturer.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
