Police reveal identity of woman accused of murdering victim 'out of curiosity'

Jung Yoo-jung, pictured here, is suspected of murdering another woman in her 20s at her home in Busan after pretending to be a high school student in need of tutoring. [NEWS1]

Police revealed the identity of the 23-year-old woman who said she murdered another woman in her 20s in Busan "out of curiosity" on Thursday.

The suspect, named Jung Yoo-jung, was recently arrested for allegedly killing a woman in her 20s at her home in the Geumjeong District of Busan on May 26.

She was caught by authorities after a cab driver who drove her to a riverside area of the Nakdong River reported her after she took the cab with a bloodied suitcase. The police found the victim's body parts by the riverside area, and the rest of her remains at her home.

The suspect, questioned by the police after her arrest, confessed she had planned the murder after her “curiosity was piqued from reading novels and watching TV programs on murder.”

In Korea, the authorities decide to disclose a suspect’s identity, including their name, photo and year of birth, if the case meets certain conditions such as the public's right to know the identity of violent criminal suspects.

The suspect had also told police that she was able to gain access to the victim’s home after she communicated with the victim via a mobile application for tutoring.

She said she pretended to be a high school student's parent looking for a tutor when she scheduled a tutoring session with the victim. She then went to the victim's home pretending to be a student, wearing a high school uniform.

Police found additional evidence that the suspect had planned the alleged murder, such as large plastic bags and bleach.

Police said the suspect was living with family members at the time of the alleged murder, but that she had lived an isolated life after graduating from high school.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]