The identity of Baek Seung-tae, 60, who is accused of wielding a weapon against two acquaintances at a karaoke in Cheongju and killing one of them, has been made public. Police said they decided to disclose his identity information, citing the brutality of the crime and the severity of the harm.
The North Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency on the 27th posted Baek Seung-tae's name, age and facial photo on its website on suspicion of murder. The disclosure period is 30 days starting today.
Earlier, on the 18th, the North Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency convened a committee to review the disclosure of identity information and voted to disclose Baek Seung-tae's identity, citing the brutality of the method and the seriousness of the outcome. After Baek's side filed an objection, the final disclosure was made on this day following a grace period under the relevant law.
Around 5 a.m. on the 9th, at a karaoke in Cheongju, Baek Seung-tae allegedly wielded a weapon against a man in his 50s, identified as A, and a man in his 40s, identified as B, killing A and seriously injuring B.
All three were reportedly regulars at the karaoke and knew each other. The karaoke owner was said to have let them use separate rooms to sleep on the day of the incident.
According to police, Baek Seung-tae, who was intoxicated at the time, went to the rooms where A and B were sleeping and wielded a weapon he had brought in advance. In police questioning, Baek said he committed the crime "after an argument," and claimed he had the weapon "for self-defense."
Police also investigated the possibility that the crime was premeditated, noting that Baek Seung-tae had a weapon in advance, but referred the case to prosecutors without pinpointing a clear motive, determining that his statements lacked credibility.