Lee Choon-jae

Lee Choon-jae (Korean: 이춘재; Hanja: 李春在, alternative spelling: Lee Chun-jae; born January 1963) is a South Korean serial killer who was convicted of killing his sister-in-law in 1994 and later confessed to killing 15 other people, including 10 people in the Hwaseong serial murders between 1986 and 1991.

This is a Korean name; the family name is Lee.
Lee Choon-jae
이춘재
BornJanuary 1963 (1963-01) (age 57)[1]
Hwaseong, South Korea
Other namesKorean Zodiac Killer
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Criminal penaltyLife sentence for rape and murder (eligible for parole after 20 years)
Details
Victims>46 (1 convicted murder, 15 confessed murders, and more than 30 confessed rapes and attempted rapes)
Span of crimes
January 1986–January 13, 1994
CountrySouth Korea
Killed16 (1 convicted, 15 confessed)
Date apprehended
January 18, 1994
Imprisoned atThe Busan Prison
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationLee Chun-jae
McCune–ReischauerLee Ch’un-chae

The serial murders are considered to be the most infamous in South Korea's modern history. They are often compared to those committed by the Zodiac Killer in the United States, and served as the inspiration for the 2003 film Memories of Murder.[2] Lee was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 20 years in the killing of his sister-in-law, but despite DNA evidence and his confession in 2019, he could not be prosecuted for the other murders because the statute of limitations had expired.

Hwaseong serial murders

The Hwaseong serial murders (Korean: 화성 연쇄 살인 사건; Hanja: 華城連鎖殺人事件; RR: hwaseong yeonswae sarin sageon) were a series of rapes and murders that occurred in the city of Hwaseong between September 15, 1986 and April 3, 1991.[3] In each case, a woman was found bound, gagged, raped and in most cases strangled to death with their own clothes. It sparked the largest criminal case in South Korea with over 2 million man-days[4] spent on investigation and over 21,000 suspects investigated.[3]

A suspect sketch was drawn based on the memory of the bus driver, Kang, and bus conductor, Uhm, who saw a man get on the bus shortly after the seventh murder on September 7, 1988.[5] The characteristics of the suspect, which were described by the bus driver, were similar to the descriptions given by survivors who were sexually assaulted.[5] According to the victims, the culprit at the time of the incident was a thin-framed man in his mid-20s, with a height of 165 to 170 centimeters, a short cut sporty-type hair, no double eyelids, and a sharp nose.[6] In addition, he was described as having soft hands.[5] Police also stated that the suspect had a "B" blood type,[7] but in 2019, police acknowledged that this was likely inaccurate, because Lee has blood type "O".[8]

On July 27, 1989, Yoon Sang-Yeo, a 22-year-old man, was arrested for the murder of the eighth victim, 14-year-old Park Sang-hee.[9] Yoon admitted guilt during questioning and forensic tests of pubic hair samples found at the scene suggested similarities with his.[10] This case was determined to be a copycat crime,[11] and Yoon was sentenced to life in prison, but appealed the ruling at the time, alleging that police coerced him into giving false confessions through torture.[10] His appeal was denied and he served 19.5 years in jail before being released on parole in 2009.[10] In 2019, Lee Choon-jae confessed to the murder and Yoon filed for a re-trial to prove his innocence.[12]

The release of the film Memories of Murder in 2003, which was partially inspired by the serial murders, sparked renewed interest in the case.[13] The murder of a female college student in Hwaseong in 2004 also sparked renewed interest and fears that a serial killer had returned.[14] The serial murders made headlines again as the statute of limitations for the most recent victims was due to expire on April 2, 2006.[15] At the time of the killings, there was a 15-year statute of limitations for first-degree murder. This was increased to 25 years in 2007, and finally lifted in 2015, but it was not retroactive.[16] However, evidence and police records were kept due to the significance of the case.[17][18]

Robbery charges

On September 26, 1989, around 0:55 am, Lee broke into a house in Gwangju, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province with weapons and gloves and was discovered by the landlord.[19] He was sentenced by the Suwon District Court to one year and six months in prison in the first trial in February 1990 for the charges of robbery and violence.[19] After the first trial, Lee filed an appeal, claiming that he was beaten by an unknown young man and entered the victim's house while being chased.[19] In the second trial following Lee's appeal, the court suspended his sentence to two years of probation, where he was released in mid-April, 1990.[20]

Sister-in-law's murder and arrest

After Lee's wife left him in December 1993, he invited over his 18-year-old sister-in-law, then proceeded to drug, rape and kill her on January 13, 1994.[21] According to the detective who investigated him, Lee went to his father-in-law offering help in the search for his missing sister-in-law, where they both reported that she might have been abducted.[19] Lee was arrested a few days later, on January 18,[22] after repeated questioning where he later asked, " How many years do you serve in prison for rape and murder?"[19] Lee denied any responsibility and the court overturned his confession, stating that he made a false statement because of police coercion.[19] However, Lee was convicted and sentenced to death in May 1994, and his conviction was upheld in September of the same year. The Supreme Court of South Korea reviewed the case in 1995 and Lee's sentence was reduced to a life sentence,[23] with the possibility of parole after 20 years.[24]

Identification and confession

On September 18, 2019, police announced that Lee had been identified as a suspect in the serial murders.[25][26][16] He was identified after DNA from the underwear of one of the victims was matched with his, and subsequent DNA testing linked him to four of the other unsolved serial murders.[24] At the time, he was identified he was already serving a life sentence at a prison in Busan for the rape and murder of his sister-in-law.[27] Lee initially denied any involvement in the serial murders,[28][29] but on 2 October 2019, police announced that Lee had confessed to killing 15 people, including all 10 victims in the serial murders, which includes a case previously considered to be a copycat crime, and 5 others. Three of those other murders happened in Hwaseong but had not previously been attributed to the serial killer, and the other two happened in Cheongju. As of October 2019, details about those 5 victims have not been released because the investigation is ongoing.[30] In addition to the murders, he also confessed to more than 30 rapes and attempted rapes.[31][32][33][34][35]

On 15 November 2019, police announced that they had reached a provisional conclusion that Lee was responsible for all 10 serial murders.[12]

Questions about copycat case

Yoon Sang-Yeo, who was convicted of killing the eighth victim and spent 20 years in prison until he was released on parole in 2009, filed for a re-trial of his case on 13 November 2019 following news reports that Lee had confessed to all 10 serial murders. Two days later, police announced that they had reached a provisional conclusion that Lee was responsible for the murder for which Yoon was convicted. Police said Lee's confession in the eighth murder 'elaborately and coherently' described both the scene and the victim. This raised concerns that police had charged an innocent man.[12][36]

List of known victims

The first 10 murders were part of the Hwaseong serial murders.

Crime Date and time of crime (estimated)[37] Date and time of discovery[37] Victim and age Location[37] Remarks
1 September 15, 1986
06:20		 September 19, 1986
14:00		 Lee Wan-im, 71 Taean-eup (Now called Hwaseong), Annyeong-ri (now called Annyeong-dong), pasture Elder murdered while returning home after visiting her daughter.[37]
Evidence found: Strangled by hand, negative semen reaction [37]
2 October 20, 1986
22:00		 October 23, 1986
14:50		 Park Hyun-sook, 25 Taean-eup (now called Hwaseong), Jinan-ri (now called Jinan-dong), canal Murdered after getting off the bus while returning home from Songtan after meeting with a prospective marriage partner.[37]
Evidence found: Strangled by hand, semen (blood type cannot be determined)[37]
3 December 12, 1986
23:00		 April 23, 1987
14:00		 Kwon Jung-bon, 25 Taean-eup (now called Hwaseong), Annyeong-ri (now called Annyeong-dong), embankment Housewife murdered in front of her house.[37]
Evidence found: Strangled by stockings, gagged with her stockings, panties on the face, semen (blood type cannot be determined)[37]
4 December 14, 1986
23:00		 December 21, 1986
12:30		 Lee Kye-sook, 23 Jeongnam-myeon, Gwanhang-ri, ridge between rice fields Murdered after getting off the bus while returning home after meeting with a prospective marriage partner.[37]
Evidence found: Hands tied, strangled and violated by an umbrella, girdle covering her face, semen (blood type cannot be determined)[37]
5 January 10, 1987
20:50		 January 11, 1987
13:00		 Hong Jin-young, 19 Taean-eup (now called Hwaseong), Hwanggye-ri (now called Hwanggye-dong), rice paddy High school girl murdered after getting off the bus while returning home.[37]
Evidence found: Hands tied, gagged with her socks, strangled, semen (blood type cannot be determined)[37]
6 May 2, 1987
23:00		 May 9, 1987
15:00		 Park Eun-joo, 29 Taean-eup (now called Hwaseong), Jinan-ri (now called Jinan-dong), hill Housewife murdered while going to give her husband an umbrella.[37]
Evidence found: strangled, semen (blood type cannot be determined)[37]
7 September 7, 1987
21:30		 September 8, 1987
09:30		 Ahn Gi-soon, 54 Paltan-myeon, Gajae-ri, canal Housewife murdered after getting off the bus while returning home.[37]
Evidence found: Hands tied, gagged with her socks and handkerchief, strangled, peach slices, semen (blood type cannot be determined)[37]
8 September 16, 1988
02:00		 September 16, 1988
06:50		 Park Sang-hee, 14 Taean-eup (now called Hwaseong), Jinan-ri (now called Jinan-dong), house Middle school girl murdered while sleeping in her room.[37] Initially determined to be a copycat crime perpetrated by 22-year-old Yoon Sung-yeo,[38] who served 19.5 years in jail before being released on parole in 2009.[37] However, after Lee's confession in 2019, police reached a provisional conclusion that Lee was indeed the killer.[33][10] Yoon filed for a re-trial on 13 November 2019.[12]
9 November 15, 1990
18:30 (weather: foggy)		 November 16, 1990
09:50		 Kim Mi-jung, 14 Taean-eup (now called Hwaseong), Byeongjeom-dong (now called Byeongjeom-dong), hill Middle school girl murdered while returning home.[37]
Evidence found: Hands and feet tied, strangled, gagged with her bra, ballpoint pen, fork, spoon and razor blade, semen (blood-type determined to be "B")[37]
10 April 3, 1991
21:00 (weather: clear)		 April 4, 1991
09:30		 Kwon Soon-sang, 69 Dongtan-myeon, Bansong-ri (now called Bansong-dong), hill Elder murdered after getting off the bus while returning home.[37]
Evidence found: Strangled, two footprint marks (couldn't be analyzed), semen (blood-type determined to be "B")[37]
11 Not released Not released Not released Hwaseong
12 Not released Not released Not released Hwaseong
13 Not released Not released Not released Hwaseong
14 Not released Not released Not released Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province
15 Not released Not released Not released Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province
16 January 13, 1994 Not released Lee's sister-in-law, 18 Lee was sentenced to death for rape and murder. Reduced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

In media

Several films and television shows were based on the Hwaseong serial murders.[2]

See also

References
  1. SBS
  2. Cho, Seongyong (May 23, 2012). "A South Korean "Zodiac"". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  3. Kyung-Hyun Nam (April 1, 2006). "Hwaseong Killings Still Baffle Police". english.donga.com. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  4. ""화성사건은 아직 끝나지 않았다" 당시 담당형사 책펴내". Donga Ilbo. September 8, 2003. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  5. Hong, Hyun-chul (May 8, 2011). "화성 연쇄 살인사건…숨은 이야기 "살인자 모습 기억에 남아"". Today Korea (in Korean). Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  6. "화성연쇄살인사건 범인 몽타주 공개…목격자 등장". MBN (in Korean). May 8, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  7. "화성사건 용의자, 처제 살인 전까지 화성에 살았다". Yonhap News (in Korean). September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  8. Moon, Dong-sung; Jo, Min-ah (September 19, 2019). "화성 사건 용의자의 혈액형 논란, "B형은 과거의 추정에 불과"". kmib (in Korean). Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  9. Lee, Chang-kyu (October 4, 2019). "[리부트] 화성연쇄살인사건 용의자 이춘재, '모방범죄' 8차 사건도 본인 소행 주장…수사 혼선 목적?". Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  10. Kim, Arin (October 10, 2019). "Police say innocent man may have been jailed for 1980s Hwaseong murder". Korea Herald. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  11. Kim, Hyun-bin (October 8, 2019). "Hwaseong murder case may have accused wrong person". Korea Times. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  12. "Police: Lee Chun-jae is behind all Hwaseong murders". Yonhap News Agency. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  13. Nam, Kyung-Hyun (April 1, 2006). "Hwaseong Killings Still Baffle Police". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  14. "Hwaseong Fears Return of Serial Killer". The Chosun Ilbo. September 1, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  15. "Time Running out to Find Hwaseong Ripper". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  16. "South Korean serial killer who inspired 'Memories of Murder' identified after 30 years". BNO News. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  17. "After 3 decades, police believe they found infamous serial killer in South Korea". CBS News. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  18. "Suspect in decades-old Hwaseong serial murders in South Korea booked, case to be sent to prosecutors". The Straits Times. October 15, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  19. Choi, Sang-jin (September 26, 2019). "화성연쇄살인사건 이춘재, 처제 사건 당시 "강압수사로 허위진술" 주장". Se Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  20. Lee, Ki-joo (September 19, 2019). "[단독] 이춘재 본적지 '화성군 태안읍' 확인…2·6번째 벌어진 곳". MBC News (in Korean). Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  21. Kwon, Sok-chun (January 17, 1995). "처제 성폭행뒤 殺害 30代 死刑원심 파기". Kyunghyang News (in Korean). Naver News Library. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  22. Shin, Dong-bin (September 19, 2019). "[단독] 이춘재, 조카 보러 온 처제 습관 노려 범행". JB News (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  23. Kim, Jin-joo (September 19, 2019). "이춘재 사건 담당판사 "사형 내릴 수 밖에 없다 생각, 판결문 자세히 썼다"". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  24. "Hwaseong serial murderer may have confessed as chances of parole dimmed". Yonhap News Agency. October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  25. Park, Seon-young (September 19, 2019). "[단독]"경찰, 공소시효 끝나는 15년간 DNA 분석 시도 안 했다"". Channel A (in Korean). Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  26. "Police find suspect in 30-year-old Hwaseong serial murder case". The Korea Herald. September 18, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  27. "Police find suspect in 30-year-old Hwaseong serial murder case". The Korea Herald. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  28. "30-year mystery solved as South Korea's worst serial killer likely identified". RT. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  29. "Suspect denies involvement in S. Korea's worst serial murder case". Yonhap News Agency. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  30. "이춘재 "이런 날 올 줄 알았다"…살인 14건 포함 총 40여건 자백(종합2보)". Yonhap News (in Korean). October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  31. "Suspect in Hwaseong serial murder case confesses to killings: police". Yonhap News. October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  32. Kwon, Jake; Hollingsworth, Julia (October 4, 2019). "South Korean man confesses to a series of murders that stumped police for decades". CNN. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  33. "화성 연쇄살인 "8차 사건 내가 했다"". Yonhap News (in Korean). October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  34. Shim, Kyu-seok (October 8, 2019). "Killer's confession is key to Cheongju murders". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  35. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191217003400315
  36. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/03/asia/south-korea-hwaseong-apology-intl-hnk/index.html
  37. "화성연쇄살인사건". Naver Knowledge Encyclopedia (in Korean). pmg Knowledge Engine Institute. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  38. Jeon, Woo-yong (October 4, 2019). "이춘재, 화성 8차사건 범행 인정 '범인 윤성여는 무기징역 복역중'". Asia News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved October 9, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.