Police release identity of suspect in robbery-murder of couple Naju

NAJU, Jeonnam-Gwangju — Police on Wednesday publicly identified a man accused of tying up and killing a couple in their 60s in Naju, Jeonnam-Gwangju, before stealing their bank card and withdrawing cash.

The suspect’s name, Park Yong-su, photograph, and age were released by the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency on its official website at 10 a.m. Wednesday. His personal information will remain publicly available for 30 days, through Nov. 13.

Park has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and murder.

Park is accused of fatally stabbing a man in his 60s and strangling the man's wife at their home in Wanggok-myeon, Naju, between 9:28 p.m. and 11:57 p.m. on Oct. 5. He is also accused of stealing a bank card belonging to the victims and withdrawing 6 million won ($4,500) from an ATM after the killings.

Investigators found that Park spent all the stolen cash at an adult gaming arcade in Gwangju.

The couple were found dead at around 7:49 p.m. on Oct. 6 after police responded to a report from a relative who said they had been unable to contact them. Both victims were found with their hands and feet bound, one in the living room and the other in the main bedroom.

Park told police that he "had not intended to kill them," but investigators suspect the killings were premeditated.

Park, who has no regular employment, was found to have visited the area near the couple's home several times before the killings.

On the day of the crime, Park allegedly rode a bicycle to the couple's home with his face concealed by a hat and mask. After the killings, he fled Naju in his car, which he had parked in advance about 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.9 miles) in a straight line from the victims' home.

During his escape, Park loaded the bicycle he had ridden to the house onto a 1-ton truck belonging to the male victim and drove away from the scene. He later abandoned the truck in a wooded area near Juksan Weir before cycling back to where he had parked his car.

Police initially investigated Park on suspicion of murder but upgraded the charge to robbery and murder, based on evidence of premeditation, including his visits to the victims' neighborhood before the killings and his withdrawal of cash using their bank card.

Under Korean law, robbery and murder carries a minimum sentence of life imprisonment and a maximum penalty of death.

Police are continuing to investigate Park's claim that he had visited the couple's home to collect money he had lent them. They are scheduled to refer the case to the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office on Friday.

BY HWANG HEE-GYU [[email protected]]