China-born lecturer sought in Korea student murder case
AM730 · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
South Korean police have applied for a formal arrest warrant for a 31-year-old Chinese national surnamed Zheng, a university lecturer in South Korea, over the killing and dismemberment of a 25-year-old Chinese female student in Gyeongsan. Investigators said Zheng admitted killing the woman in the early hours of June 20, but the exact time of death still needs to be confirmed through an autopsy and further forensic work. Police are also continuing to search for missing body parts after Zheng allegedly said he scattered remains across Gyeongsan and other areas including Gyeonggi Province. CCTV footage released by police indicates he later wore the victim’s clothes, covered his face with a hat and mask, and took steps that investigators believe were intended to mislead the inquiry.
Key Points
- Police said the victim, identified in reports as 25-year-old Chinese student “Wenwen”, was seen on CCTV at about 2am on June 20 entering Zheng’s residence with a suitcase.
- Investigators said there were no visible signs of coercion when the pair met and went into the residence together in Gyeongsan.
- At about 10:30pm the same day, CCTV allegedly showed Zheng wearing the victim’s dress, dragging luggage, and heading toward Dongdaegu Station.
- Police said Zheng later returned home, changed back into men’s clothing, and at about 2:20pm on June 21 went out again before reporting his girlfriend missing.
- Authorities sought court approval to detain Zheng on murder-related charges, citing the gravity of the case and risks of destroying evidence or fleeing.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong and other Chinese-speaking readers with family studying overseas, the case is likely to intensify concern about student safety, cross-border support, and how quickly local authorities can respond when a person is reported missing. The reports also point to possible legal complications after conviction, as Chinese legal experts cited by media said South Korea has primary jurisdiction and extradition back to China would be difficult in practice. Questions over Zheng’s mental-state assessment and reported legal defence plans may also affect how closely the case is followed in the region.