Hwaseong serial murders

The Hwaseong serial murders (Hangul: 화성 연쇄 살인 사건; hanja: 華城連鎖殺人事件; RR: hwaseong yeonswae sarin sageon) are a series of unsolved serial murders that occurred in the South Korean city of Hwaseong between September 15, 1986 and April 3, 1991.[1] Ten women were found bound, raped, and murdered. The murders are considered to be the most infamous in the modern history of South Korea and has been compared to the Zodiac Killer.[2]

History

Ten women from the ages of fourteen to seventy-one were found gagged, raped, and murdered over a four-year, seven-month period in the rural city of Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province. Most of the women were strangled to death by use of their own clothes, such as pantyhose and socks. The evidence compiled led to a description of a man in his twenties weighing between 165 and 170 pounds and having the blood type B based on forensic testimony.

The case is very famous within Korea for being one of the first truly identifiable strings of murders with a modus operandi. Police officers involved spent two million man-days on the case.[3] The total number of suspects also grew to enormous numbers, eventually ending with a total count of 21,280 individuals.[4]

In Korea, the statute of limitations for murder is fifteen years; and it ran out on the case on April 2, 2006.[4] However, the police records are still kept because of the significance of the case.

In 2004, a female college student was murdered sparking new interest in the Hwaseong serial murders, though the case also remains unsolved.[5]

In Media

Several films and television shows are based on these murders.[2][6]

References

  1. ↑ Kyung-Hyun Nam (2006-04-01). "Hwaseong Killings Still Baffle Police". english.donga.com. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  2. 1 2 Cho, Seongyong (2012-05-23). "A South Korean "Zodiac"". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  3. ↑ "“화성사건은 아직 끝나지 않았다” 당시 담당형사 책펴내" (in Korean). DongA Ilbo. 2003-09-08. Retrieved 2016-03-24. 연인원 200만명의 경찰이 투입됐고...
  4. 1 2 "화성연쇄살인사건 ‘살인의 추억’ 으로 묻히나" (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. 2006-04-01. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  5. ↑ "Hwaseong Fears Return of Serial Killer". english.chosun.com. 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  6. ↑ Julie Jones (2015-08-26). "More Writers And Actresses Opt For Cable Dramas". KDramaStars. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
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