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Arson suspect found dead on property after mother-in-law killed in house fire

Published: 21 Apr. 2026, 22:09

The scene of a suspected arson in Hadong County, South Gyeongsang, on April 21 [GYEONGSANGNAM-DO FIRE DEPARTMENT]

The suspected perpetrator of an arson in Hadong County, South Gyeongsang, that killed his mother-in-law was found dead near the scene, police said Tuesday.

The fire broke out around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police, and was fully extinguished at around 3:19 p.m.

The victim was found dead in the front yard by fire authorities, covered in burns.

During the investigation, police identified the victim’s son-in-law as the suspect and launched an inquiry.

However, the suspect was later found dead in a nearby greenhouse. Police believe he died by suicide.

“We are investigating the overall circumstances of the case, including the connection between the cause of the fire, the victim’s death and the death of the suspect,” a police official said, adding authorities are working to confirm the exact details.

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191 or the Crisis Counseling Center at 1577-0199. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling; call 02-2075-4180 (+1) to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org

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 HAN YOUNG-HYE [[email protected]]