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Police identify 3 more victims in motel poisoning-murder case

Published: 16 Mar. 2026, 18:18 Updated: 16 Mar. 2026, 19:12

Mug shots of Kim So-yeong, a woman accused of giving drug-laced drinks to victims at motels in Gangbuk District, northern Seoul, provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on March 9 [YONHAP]

A woman arrested on suspicion of killing two men in northern Seoul also allegedly gave three other men drug-laced beverages, police said Monday, bringing the number of victims to six.

Police booked the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Kim So-yeong, on charges of causing injury under special circumstances after confirming the additional victims, an official from the National Office of Investigation said at a regular briefing.

The three men met Kim between October of last year and January this year in Seoul’s Seocho and Gangbuk districts and later showed unusual symptoms after drinking beverages she allegedly provided, police said. Investigators believe the drinks contained benzodiazepine-based drugs.

The National Forensic Service detected the same benzodiazepine-class substance in one victim’s body that authorities believe Kim mixed into the drinks.

Tests are still underway for another victim, while no such substance was detected in the third man. Police said the drug may no longer have been traceable because a significant time had passed since the incident.

The National Office of Investigation building in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, is seen on Jan. 6, 2025. [NEWS1]

Prosecutors detained and indicted Kim last Tuesday on charges of murder, aggravated bodily injury and violating the Narcotics Control Act.

Kim allegedly gave beverages containing benzodiazepine-based drugs to three men between mid-December last year and Feb. 9, according to prosecutors. Two of the victims died, while a third suffered toxic encephalopathy but later recovered after treatment.

Investigators believe the crimes were premeditated. Prosecutors say Kim prepared the mixture in advance by adding drugs to hangover relief drinks and later increased the amount of the substance given to victims after the first man became unconscious.

Authorities also found records showing that Kim used generative AI services several times to learn about the risks of combining drugs and alcohol.

Prosecutors believe she used the drugs to incapacitate men she met, seeking financial gain and attempting to avoid conflict amid family problems and social isolation.

Kim So-yeong, accused of giving drug-laced drinks to men, attends a warrant review hearing at the Seoul Northern District Court in Dobong District, northern Seoul, on Feb. 12. [NEWS1]

Kim's identity was made public on March 9, about two weeks after police handed her over to prosecutors on charges of murder.

Authorities on Monday defended the decision not to disclose the suspect's identity earlier in the investigation.

“The suspect denied the allegations, and the detention period during the investigation was only 10 days, so it was difficult to determine that the requirements for disclosing the identity of a suspect in a serious crime had been sufficiently met,” a National Investigation Office official said.

Police said they plan to apply the criteria for identity disclosure more actively in similar cases and strengthen related training.

Kim’s first trial is scheduled for April 9 at 3:30 p.m. at the Seoul Northern District Court in Dobong District, northern Seoul. The court is expected to examine issues including intent to kill and the circumstances surrounding the alleged crimes.

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.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]