South Korea has a history of high-profile crimes that have shocked the nation, ranging from brutal serial murders to institutional human rights abuses. While the country is generally known for its low crime rate, several cases stand out for their severity and impact on society.
Infamous Serial Killers
Lee Choon-jae (Hwaseong Serial Murders): Between 1986 and 1991, Lee Choon-jae raped and murdered nine women in Hwaseong. For decades, these remained South Korea's most notorious unsolved crimes until DNA evidence identified Lee in 2019. He confessed to a total of 15 murders and 30 rapes while already serving a life sentence for the 1994 murder of his sister-in-law.
Yoo Young-chul (The "Raincoat Killer"): Known as a cannibal and serial killer, Yoo murdered at least 19 people between 2003 and 2004. He targeted wealthy elderly individuals and female sex workers, often mutilating and burning their bodies. His crimes inspired the film The Chaser.
Kim Dae-doo: One of the most prolific criminals in Korean history, Kim murdered 17 people over just 55 days in 1975. He was executed in 1976.
Jeong Nam-gyu: Between 2004 and 2006, Jeong murdered 13 people, claiming he viewed killing as a "calling". He eventually took his own life in prison.
Kang Ho-sun: Often called the "South Korean Ted Bundy," Kang was convicted in 2009 for murdering 10 women, including his wife and mother-in-law. He currently remains on death row.
Human Rights & Institutional Atrocities
- Brothers Home Abuse: This was a massive institutional "cleansing" facility in Busan where thousands of people—including children and the homeless—were kidnapped from the streets and enslaved between the 1970s and 1980s. Inmates suffered from starvation, forced labor, and brutal physical and sexual abuse; hundreds died.
- Miryang Gang Rape Case: In 2004, 44 high school boys in Miryang repeatedly gang-raped a middle school girl over several months. The case remains a major point of public anger due to the light sentences given to the perpetrators and the mishandling of the victim by police.
Major Social & Corruption Scandals
- Burning Sun Scandal (2019): This massive K-pop and nightclub scandal involved allegations of drug use, group sexual assault, and police collusion. High-profile stars like Seungri were implicated, revealing deep-seated corruption among the country's elite.
- 2016 Political Scandal: The influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante, Choi Soon-sil, led to the first impeachment of a sitting South Korean president.
Recent High-Profile Crimes
- Chung Yu-jung (2023): A young woman obsessed with true crime who murdered a stranger "out of curiosity". She meticulously planned the crime and mutilated the body before being caught by a suspicious taxi driver.
- "Mudjima" (Don't Ask Why) Stabbings: A recent surge in random, unprovoked stabbing attacks in public spaces has caused widespread public anxiety.
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