Kang Ho-sun

Kang Ho-sun (born October 10, 1969) is a South Korean serial killer who was sentenced to death in 2010 for killing 10 women, including his wife and mother-in-law.^[1]

Murders

The murders took place in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. His first victim was Bae, a 45-year-old karaoke bar employee, followed by three murders in 2007 including a 48-year-old housewife and a 21-year-old student from Suwon; their bodies were found in the woods.^[2] Kang was arrested by the police in 2009 and following the two-day investigation that ensued, he confessed to 10 murders.^[3] More victim remains have since been discovered and identified using DNA evidence. The families of the victims sued Kang for damages.^[4]

Trial and sentence

Upon confessing to murdering 10 women, Kang was found guilty of rape, murder and arson and was sentenced to death by a court in Ansan on 22 April 2009.^[5] While death by hanging remains on South Korea's statute books an informal moratorium on the Korean death sentence has been in place since 1997.^[5][6]

Confirmed victims of Kang Ho-sun

• Bae, 45, employed at a karaoke bar in Gunpo, on December 14, 2006
• Park, 37, employed at a karaoke bar in Suwon, on December 24, 2006
• Park, 52, office employee at Hwaseong, on January 3, 2007
• Kim, 37, employed in a karaoke bar in Anyang, on January 7, 2007
• Yeon, 20, university student in Suwon, on January 7, 2007
• Kim, 48, housewife in Suwon, on November 9, 2008
• University Student, 21, in Ansan, on December 19, 2008
• Mother-in-law of Kang Ho-sun
• Wife of Kang Ho-sun

Prison life

During his early days in prison, Kang acted like a king of the other prisoners and never seemed apologetic or remorseful, according to a prison officer. He said Kang seemed to realize his position only after Jung Nam-gyu, a serial killer who was also sentenced to death, committed suicide because of the pressure of death penalty.^[7]

References