Prosecutors on the 10th indicted Kim So-young, 20, the suspect in the "Gangbuk motel serial murder case," while in detention.
The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Director General Kim Ga-ram) said it indicted Kim So-young in detention on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and violating the Narcotics Control Act.
From December last year to February this year, at motels around Suyu-dong in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Kim is accused of handing drinks laced with drugs to three men in their 20s on three occasions, killing two and injuring one. Kim So-young was referred to the prosecution and detained on Mar. 19.
Prosecutors said the investigation found the case was a premeditated crime prepared in advance. Kim was found to have prepared drugs in advance by feigning post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to obtain sleeping pills under false pretenses, mixing them into hangover remedies, and handing them to the male victims to drink.
Prosecutors concluded that Kim, whose emotional socialization was not fully formed due to family discord, exploited men to satisfy consumption desires and economic gratification. Kim is accused of subsequently using drugs to avoid conflict situations or to subdue the men and killing them.
Police on the 4th released an analysis of Kim So-young's Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) assessment, saying Kim meets the criteria for a psychopath.
The psychopathy assessment quantifies personality traits of psychopaths—such as callousness, impulsivity, lack of empathy, and irresponsibility. It consists of 20 items, with a maximum score of 40.
In Korea, a score over 25 is generally classified as psychopathic, and Kim is understood to have scored above that threshold.
A prosecution official said, "We plan to respond sternly to serious crimes with aberrant motives targeting unspecified members of the public."