Suspect Detained After Former Partner Is Killed in Daejeon
Police detained a man in his 40s in Gangneung after a woman who had previously reported him for alleged stalking was found dead at her home in Daejeon.
South Korean police have detained a man in his 40s on suspicion of killing a former partner in Daejeon, renewing scrutiny of how authorities assess risks after reports of stalking and relationship violence.
The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency said the suspect was taken into custody in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Sunday morning. He is accused of killing a woman in her 40s at a residence in Daejeon’s Jung District on Saturday afternoon and fleeing the area. The victim was later found by a family member.
Investigators tracked the suspect for about 18 hours before apprehending him at approximately 7:40 a.m. Police believe he traveled by taxi to Incheon International Airport after the killing and attempted to leave the country. Authorities imposed a travel ban, after which he moved to Gangneung, where officers detained him.
Police records show the victim had previously contacted authorities about the suspect. In October 2025, she reported that he continued to reach her through phone calls, text messages and a mobile messaging service. Police opened a stalking case and imposed emergency measures intended to prevent him from approaching or contacting her. Officers also provided a safety smartwatch, registered her for rapid emergency response and arranged patrols tailored to her home and workplace.
The victim later told police that the pair had reconciled and that she did not want the suspect punished. She returned the smartwatch early. Police closed that case without referral in November after concluding that the conduct did not meet the threshold for persistent or repeated stalking.
A second emergency call involving the pair was made in December after what was described as a minor argument. Officers said they found no confirmed victimization or other indication of a crime at the scene and ended their response there. Police said no further stalking reports involving the pair had been identified since then.
The suspect was reportedly refusing to give a statement about the case as of Sunday afternoon. Investigators plan to establish the motive and precise sequence of events before seeking a detention warrant. No court finding has been made, and the allegation remains subject to investigation.
The case is likely to intensify attention on the practical limits of victim-protection measures when a complainant withdraws a request for punishment or returns safety equipment. It also raises questions about how earlier reports should inform later risk assessments, even after an individual case has been formally closed.