Soldier arrested for allegedly killing and dismembering woman found in Bukhan River

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Soldier arrested for allegedly killing and dismembering woman found in Bukhan River

Published: 04 Nov. 2024, 10:37 Updated: 04 Nov. 2024, 11:58

Bukhan River [YONHAP]

A man in his 30s was detained Sunday on suspicion of killing a woman and dismembering her body, police said.

Police arrested the suspect without a warrant inside an underpass connected to Ilwon station in Seoul's Gangnam District, southern Seoul, a day after body parts were found floating in the Bukhan River in Hwacheon, Gangwon.

The suspect, a soldier, reportedly admitted to the murder charge after his arrest.

The case was opened when a resident reported a piece of the corpse, presumed to be a leg, floating in the Bukhan River on Saturday.

The police dispatched a diver to search for more body parts the same day but had to withdraw as nightfall arrived. The search resumed on Sunday, and the police found other parts around 500 meters (1,640 feet) away in seven plastic bags near the harbor of Bungeo Island.

The victim is presumed to have been a woman in her 30s and an acquaintance of the suspect. Neither person was reported to be a resident of Gangwon.

As of Monday morning, around 80 percent of the body had been found. The body parts had not undergone significant decomposition at the time of their discovery.

The head and fingers of the corpse had not yet been found as of Monday morning, according to local media reports.

Police said they plan to resume the search for the remainder of the body on Monday and will request its identification by the National Forensic Service.

Updated, Nov. 4: Further details about the discovery of the body and the ongoing police search.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG, YONHAP [[email protected]]