Korean Stands Trial in China for Kidnapping
By Sunny Lee
Korea Times Correspondent
BEIJING ― A Korean man stood trial in China for plotting to kidnap another Korean, the
state-controlled China Daily reported Wednesday.
Kim Soo-seok, 44, stood trial Tuesday at the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's
Court with his two Chinese accomplices, in the first-ever abduction case involving a
foreign citizen in the city.
Kim was accused of plotting to kidnap Jean Moon-gyun, a 23-old Korean college student
studying in Shanghai last December, demanding ransom money of 300 million won ($297,000)
from his wealthy father.
Kim and his Chinese accomplices lured Jean to a coffee shop, telling him that a
friend of his father was in town. They subsequently took him to an apartment where they detained
him.
The kidnappers then called Jean's father back in Korea and demanded the ransom. The
police in Shanghai intervened when Jean's father contacted Jean's faculty advisor in
Shanghai.
The authorities located the place where Jean was held by tracing the origin of his
mobile phone signals, which the kidnappers used once.
Jean was freed unhurt.
An official with the Korean Consulate-General in Shanghai, who is dealing with the case,
confirmed the trial, when reached by Korea Times Wednesday night. Yet he declined to
offer details, including what sentence Kim is expected to be given by the Chinese court.
According to Chinese law, a kidnapping charge can carry a life sentence or over 10
years in prison.
The court has yet to announce a verdict.
Korean students form the largest foreign student body in China, with 64,481 out of
195,503 international students last year, according to the Chinese Education Ministry.
Shanghai is among the most favored cities for Korean students studying in China.