What evidence are police examining to determine why Jin killed the 15-year-old girl in Seongbuk?

Police plan to bring in a criminal profiler and seek forensic analysis from the National Forensic Service. They are considering whether the killing was retaliation for the statutory rape complaint against Jin’s son and whether it was connected to a possible extortion scheme involving the four people.

What is the status of the statutory rape case involving Jin’s son and the girl?

The girl’s parents filed a complaint in January over an alleged statutory rape involving Jin’s 20-year-old son. Police referred the case to prosecutors in March, and prosecutors have not yet decided whether to indict him; he is being held at the Seoul Southern Detention Center on separate criminal allegations, including theft.

What penalty could Jin face if police establish that the killing was retaliation for the complaint against his son?

He could face a charge of retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The article says that offense carries the death penalty, life imprisonment or a prison term of at least 10 years, a harsher statutory range than ordinary murder.

Police seek arrest warrant for father in killing of son's alleged rape victim

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Summary

Police in Seoul sought an arrest warrant Thursday for Jin, 59, on suspicion of killing a 15-year-old girl at a shared accommodation property in Seongbuk District after he allegedly met her there Tuesday. Investigators have not established a motive and are examining whether the killing was retaliation for a complaint against Jin’s son, who is under investigation for statutory rape involving the girl. Police are also investigating a possible extortion scheme involving Jin, his girlfriend, his son and the girl.

Key Facts

Jin’s son, 20, has been under investigation over an alleged statutory rape in January; police referred the case to prosecutors in March, and prosecutors have not decided whether to indict him.
Police said Jin bought a knife and charcoal briquettes at separate stores in Incheon on Tuesday, and investigators found three empty soju bottles, charcoal briquettes and an apparent suicide note at the scene.
Police said Jin entered the property with the girl at about 5:17 p.m. Tuesday and left alone at about 8:30 p.m.; he later discarded a knife and a damaged mobile phone nearby.
If investigators establish that the killing was retaliation for the complaint against his son, Jin could face retaliatory murder charges carrying the death penalty, life imprisonment or at least 10 years in prison.
The girl had entered a youth shelter early this year after repeatedly contacting police over family-related issues and reportedly moved among shelters, including facilities outside Seoul.

By Jung Min-ho

Published Nov 12, 2026 4:18 pm KST
Updated Nov 12, 2026 6:10 pm KST

Police officers stand guard outside the scene of a murder of a teenage girl in northeastern Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Police sought an arrest warrant Thursday for a 59-year-old man, surnamed Jin, suspected of killing a 15-year-old girl who was the alleged victim in a statutory rape case involving his son, as investigators continued efforts to establish the motive.

The Seongbuk Police Station in Seoul requested the warrant on suspicion of murder. Jin was taken into emergency custody at around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday after allegedly stabbing the girl to death at a shared accommodation property in Seongbuk District, northern Seoul.

It remains unclear what motivated him to kill her. Police will bring in a criminal profiler to help determine his motive and seek forensic analysis from the National Forensic Service.

His son, 20, has been under investigation on suspicion of statutory rape involving the victim in January. Under Korean law, sexual intercourse between a person aged 19 or older and a minor aged 13 to 15 constitutes statutory rape, regardless of whether the minor consented.

According to police, Jin purchased a knife and charcoal briquettes at two separate stores in Incheon earlier Tuesday. Three empty soju bottles, charcoal briquettes and an apparent suicide note believed to have been written by Jin were found at the crime scene.

Investigators said Jin arrived at the Airbnb property in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk District at about 5:17 p.m. Tuesday, met the girl, who was already waiting outside, and entered the property with her. He then left alone at about 8:30 p.m., just over three hours later, and wandered nearby, discarding a knife and a damaged mobile phone.

The property had been booked for one night by Jin’s girlfriend, who is in her 20s.

The victim was of middle school age but was not attending school. She had entered a youth shelter early this year after repeatedly contacting police over family-related issues. She reportedly moved between shelters, including facilities outside Seoul.

Her parents filed a statutory rape complaint against Jin’s son in January. Police referred the case to prosecutors in March, and they have yet to decide whether to indict him.

His son is currently being held at the Seoul Southern Detention Center on separate criminal allegations, including theft.

If investigators establish that Jin killed the girl in retaliation for the sexual offense complaint against his son, he could face a charge of retaliatory murder. Under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, the offense carries the death penalty, life imprisonment or a prison term of at least 10 years — a harsher statutory sentencing range than ordinary murder.

Police are also examining whether Jin, his girlfriend, his son and the girl were involved in an extortion scheme involving paid dating arrangements, and whether it was connected to the killing. The Nowon Police Station had already been investigating the son, the girlfriend and the girl on allegations including theft, receiving stolen property and fraud.

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