Why are investigators examining whether the man killed the 15-year-old girl to cover up his girlfriend’s crimes?

The woman in her 20s who reportedly rented the property was in a de facto marital relationship with the suspect. Police are investigating whether she and others, including the victim, were involved in extorting money through paid dating arrangements; the victim’s family also alleged that the woman gaslit the girl and forced her into prostitution.

What happened before and after the 15-year-old girl entered the short-term rental property with the suspect?

Investigators said the suspect bought a weapon and a charcoal briquette that day, then entered the property with the girl. Around three hours later, he left alone and destroyed and discarded her cell phone.

What had the 15-year-old girl’s family reported before her death, and what happened in the statutory rape investigation?

The girl’s parents complained in January about an alleged statutory rape involving the suspect’s son, and a prosecution investigation was underway. The girl had also reportedly missed school, run away from home, and reported family troubles to police multiple times before admitting herself to a youth shelter early that year.

Arrest warrant issued for man in murder of girl assaulted by his son

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Summary

The Seoul Northern District Court issued an arrest warrant Friday for a 59-year-old man suspected of murdering a 15-year-old girl at a short-term rental property in northern Seoul. The man was apprehended Wednesday, and the court cited concerns that he could destroy evidence or flee. Investigators are examining whether he killed the girl to cover up alleged crimes by his girlfriend. The girl had previously reported family troubles to police and was under investigation as a victim in a statutory rape case involving the suspect’s son.

Key Facts

Investigators said the suspect bought a weapon and a charcoal briquette on the day of the alleged murder before entering the rental property with the girl.
The suspect left the property alone about three hours later and destroyed and discarded the girl’s cell phone.
The girl’s parents had complained about an alleged statutory rape involving the suspect’s son in January, and a prosecution investigation was underway.
The rental property was reportedly rented by a woman in her 20s who was in a de facto marital relationship with the suspect.
Police are investigating allegations that four people, including the victim, extorted money from others through paid dating arrangements.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 13, 2026 4:40 pm KST

A view of the Seoul Northern District Court in Seoul, South Korea / Lee Jung-hyuk reporter

A court issued a warrant Friday to arrest a man suspected of murdering a 15-year-old girl who allegedly was sexually assaulted by his son.

The suspect, 59, was apprehended by police at a short-term rental property in northern Seoul on Wednesday after allegedly murdering the girl on the premise the previous day.

The Seoul Northern District Court issued the arrest warrant for the suspect, citing concerns he could destroy evidence or flee.

According to investigators, the suspect purchased a weapon and a charcoal briquette on the day of the alleged crime before entering the rental property together with the girl.

Around three hours later, he left the building alone, destroyed the victim's cell phone and threw it away.

The girl reportedly did not attend school, frequently ran away from home and reported family troubles to the police multiple times before admitting herself to a youth shelter early this year.

In January, she allegedly became the victim of statutory rape involving the murder suspect's son, and a prosecution investigation had been under way following a complaint by her parents.

The rental property was reportedly rented by a woman in her 20s who was in a de facto marital relationship with the murder suspect.

Police are looking into whether the man killed the girl in order to cover up his girlfriend's crimes, as the four individuals, including the murder victim, are suspected of having extorted money from other people through paid dating arrangements.

The girl's family reportedly claimed in the police complaint that the victim had been gaslit by the woman, which they argue prompted the victim to leave her home and steal a luxury watch from her family, and forced her into prostitution.

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