Kang Ho-sun (Korean강호순; 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]

Kang Ho-sun
Born (1969-10-10) October 10, 1969 (age 55)
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

Murders

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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

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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

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  • 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

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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

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References

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  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.