Kang Ho-sun

In this Korean name, the family name is Kang.
Kang Ho-sun
Born (1969-10-10) October 10, 1969 (age 55)
Seocheon, South Korea
Height171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
MotiveLust murder
Conviction(s)Murder (10 counts)
Rape
Arson
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
Victims10
Span of crimes
2005–2008
Location(s)Gyeonggi Province
Date apprehended
January 27, 2009
Imprisoned atSeoul Detention Center

Kang Ho-sun (Korean: 강호순; Hanja: 姜浩順; born October 10, 1969) is a South Korean serial killer who was sentenced to death in 2010 for killing 10 women between October 2005 and December 2008, including his wife and her mother.[1]

Murders

The murders took place in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, a suburb of Seoul. His first victim was a karaoke bar employee named Bae, 45, followed by three others in 2007 including a 48-year-old housewife and a 21-year-old student from Suwon; their bodies were found in the woods.[2] Kang was arrested in 2009 and after two days of investigation, he confessed to 10 murders.[3] More remains of his victims were discovered and identified using DNA evidence. The victims' families sued Kang for damages.[4]

His crimes were depicted in the 2022 South Korean TV series, Through the Darkness.

Trial and sentence

After confessing to murdering 10 women, Kang was found guilty of rape, murder and arson and a court in Ansan sentenced him to death on April 22, 2009.[5] While death by hanging remains on the country's statute books, an informal moratorium on the Korean death sentence has been in place since 1997.[5][6]

Confirmed victims

  • Kang's wife, 29, and her mother, 60, on October 30, 2005
  • Yoon Jung-hyun, 23, on September 7, 2006
  • Bae Kyung-mi, 45, karaoke bar employee in Gunpo on December 14, 2006
  • Park Sung-ah, 37, karaoke bar employee in Suwon on December 24, 2006
  • Park Jung-ja, 52, office worker in Hwaseong on January 3, 2007
  • Kim Hae-young, 37, karaoke bar employee in Anyang on January 6, 2007
  • Yeon Mi-young, 21, university student in Suwon on January 7, 2007
  • Kim Soo-hee, 48, housewife in Suwon on November 9, 2008
  • Ahn Young-ok, 19, university student in Ansan on December 19, 2008

Prison life

During his early days in prison, Kang acted like a boss to fellow inmates and never seemed apologetic or remorseful, according to a prison officer. Kang is said to have realized his position only after Jeong Nam-gyu, a serial killer also on death row, died by suicide because of the pressure of the death penalty.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Death sentence for South Korean serial killer". The Standard. Archived from the original on 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
    "Serial Killer Sentenced to Death". The Korea Times. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
    [1]
    "The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - Prevention Better than Cure for Victims of Child Sex Crimes". The Chosun Ilbo. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
    "Asia-Pacific | Korean man 'admits seven murders'". BBC News. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
    "Serial killer ordered to pay victims' families-프린트화면". The Korea Herald. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
    "South Korean Serial Killer Sentenced to Death". Fox News. 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
    "The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea - One in 60 Koreans Want to Change Their Names". The Chosun Ilbo. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  2. ^ "donga.com[English donga]". English.donga.com. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  3. ^ "Brutal crimes shake nation-프린트화면". The Korea Herald. 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  4. ^ "Serial Killer Kang Tried to Commit More Crimes". The Korea Times. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  5. ^ a b Seoul (2009-04-22). "Korean serial killer Kang Ho-Sun sentenced to death". Watoday.com.au. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  6. ^ "South Korea must not resume use of the death penalty | Amnesty International". Amnesty.org. 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  7. ^ "[오늘의 세상] [2009 그사건 그사람 그후] [3] 그는 아직도 아무에게도 미안해하지 않는다". chosun.com (in Korean). 11 December 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2021.