By Kim Eun-ji

Police arrested two teenagers in the provincial city of Mokpo May 29 for attempted murder of the elder boy’s parents to get insurance money.

A 19-year-old Kim, who believed his “parents did not care about him,” promised his 15-year-old friend, Lee, 600 million won for a successful outcome if the latter would cooperate in killing or injuring both his parents who have 10 insurance policies.

The teenagers had planned to strike the sleeping couple with a brick four times each but was unsuccessful when Kim’ father, who passed out, woke up again, a police investigator said.

“At first, Kim’s father got hit. He passed out from the blow but woke up when the attacker was striking his wife. He held onto Lee’s legs and shouted out to call the police, so Kim reported,” said police chief Choi Nam-in at Mokpo police station in South Jeolla Province.

Lee, who was caught in the act, lied that his stress had been the cause before confessing that it was planned, said Choi. Kim also tried to cover up by breaking the windows as if a stranger had broken in.

“Kim told me, ‘I will pay you ­ just do it so my parents have to stay in the hospital or won’t be able to talk,’” said Lee to police.

Kim specifically told Lee to hit his 58-year-old father first and then his 52-year-old mother with the brick, four times each, according to the police.

“I hated my parents who didn’t even care when I got into an accident and hurt my leg while doing delivery work,” Kim told the police.

The details of the crime were a shock to the unsuspecting couple, who are still in the hospital for treatment, according to a Korean Broadcasting System report. Kim’s father had his jaw fractured, and the mother is suffering from a broken nasal bone.

“Even if he’s my son… I told the police I wish him dead. … How could he…,” said Kim’s mother. “I do not wish the judge to be lenient. He needs to be punished.”