By Yi Whan-woo

A woman who was arrested in March for killing her two daughters was burdened by heavy debt after becoming a member of a “religious cult,” police said.

She told investigators that she killed her daughters after receiving a text message on her mobile phone from a 33-year-old woman, surnamed Eom, who had convinced her to join the alleged cult.

The mother surnamed Kim gave money to the woman to maintain her membership in what Eom had convinced her was a religious cult. The woman has been arrested and is currently in custody for fraud.

The detectives apprehended Kim, 38, early last month in Buan, North Jeolla Province, for killing her two children, aged 10 and seven.

Investigators said Kim confessed she committed the crime because she could was heavily in debt.

Detectives were given bank information indicating that Kim gave 140 million won over the last two years to Eom, who deluded Kim by promising financial well-being through belief in the cult.

The two women first met at a parent’s meeting at their children’s elementary school. Eom approached Kim after noticing that she “looked easy to deceive,” police said. She convinced the victim to participate in the religious cult and sent her orders through text messages.

The orders were simple and easy to follow in the beginning, such as having a pizza delivered to Eom’s house on time.

She then began to order Kim to give her money. The victim used up all her money and borrowed money from private lenders to give to her.

Eom also told Kim how to “bring up” her children, ordering her to harass them by prohibiting them from falling asleep or going on a school picnic.

According to police Eom spent all the money she received from Kim on shopping.

“We had doubts about how a housewife could suffer so much debt in only two years. She eventually confessed what had happened to her,” a detective said.