Ulsan man arrested for killing 24 rescue cats 'to relieve stress' from failed investment

A cat in Gangwon in January. [YONHAP]

Police in Ulsan are investigating a man for allegedly killing 24 rescue cats.

The man is suspected of killing the cats to relieve stress from a failed real estate investment.

Police say the man confessed to killing the cats, which he got for free between May and August from an online community that supports abandoned cats.

The police say the suspect tossed the carcasses on the side of an expressway after putting them in a plastic bag.

The killings surfaced when members of the online community started asking about the cats' well-being.

An online community member reported the man to the police when the man not only refused to say how the cats were but later started avoiding calls.

The suspect reportedly suffered a substantial financial loss from a real estate investment recently.

Police say they are examining his smartphone and computers for evidence of other crimes.

The suspect faces up to three years in prison or 30 million won (almost $23,000) in fines.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]