Suspected Seoul serial killer ordered $90 worth of food after drugging victim

Order record from a nearby fried chicken restaurant placed by Kim, the suspect in the Gangbuk motel serial killings, on the day of the second murder. A total of 22 menu items were delivered to the crime scene. Korea Times photo by Na Min-seo

A suspect accused of killing two men in a series of attacks at a Seoul motel made a large food delivery order shortly after drugging one of the victims and later took the food home, according to police and investigative records.

Kim, a woman in her 20s identified only by her surname, is accused of administering beverages containing a benzodiazepine-based sedative to three men between December and February. Two of the victims died and another survived with injuries.

Interviews and investigative records reviewed by the Hankook Ilbo show that the suspect ordered 22 food items delivered immediately after the second killing. She briefly left the crime scene with food, leading police to suspect that one of her motives for luring men into the motel had been obtaining food.

According to order records from a local fried chicken restaurant, a large delivery order was placed at 9:23 p.m. on Feb. 9.

The order, totaling 22 items, included two fried chickens in four flavors along with chewy rice cakes, cheese balls, cheese sticks, spicy simmered rice cakes, rice, fries, bottles of cola and extra sauces. The total came to 131,800 won ($90).

The delivery fee was 4,100 won. The order was paid for with a credit card.

An order record from a fried chicken restaurant placed by Kim, the suspect in the Gangbuk motel serial killings, on the day of the second murder. A total of 22 menu items were delivered to the crime scene. Courtesy of the restaurant owner

“It was strange,” said the delivery driver, who spoke to the Hankook Ilbo. He said he initially wondered whether the address was wrong because the amount of food seemed excessive for a motel room.

“I remember it very clearly because I received a bonus for the large order,” he added.

The order was delivered at around 10:11 p.m., when Kim briefly opened the motel room door to receive three bags of food, the driver recalled.

“I thought it might be a family traveling together, but she was alone. No one came out to help carry the bags, even though she needed both hands just to hold them while handing over the credit card,” he said. “She didn’t even have her phone with her.”

The credit card belonged to the victim. Kim left the motel about eight minutes later, suggesting the victim had already been drugged before the food was ordered.

Aside from the unusually large order and the fact that she was alone, however, nothing else immediately stood out to the driver.

“She looked blank — just like any other customer receiving a delivery,” he said, adding that he had little chance to see the room or her clothing because she barely opened the door.

A message Kim sent to the victim after leaving the motel on Feb. 9, saying "I'm using a taxi" / Courtesy of lawyer Nam Eon-ho of Vincent Law Office

Kim left the motel at 10:19 p.m.

According to a lawyer representing the victim’s family, Kim sent the victim a photo of herself inside a taxi with the message, “I’m using a taxi,” suggesting she may have intended to create the impression that she was unaware the victim had already been rendered unconscious.

Later investigations revealed that Kim had already eaten dinner with the victim before they entered the motel, and the delivered food was taken to her home.

"The suspect had the victims pay for costly dates by suggesting they go to a motel first," according to the police referral report sent to prosecutors and reviewed by the Hankook Ilbo. Police concluded that the suspect took advantage of the victims to pay for expensive meals, hotel rooms and delivery food to satisfy her needs while facing financial difficulties.

Kim was arrested last month and referred to prosecutors on charges including murder, aggravated assault and violating narcotics laws.

On Wednesday, the Gangbuk Police Station said a psychological evaluation found she meets criteria associated with psychopathy.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.