Killer disappears with high school girl's hands｜Yeongdong School Girl Murder Case｜True Crime Korea

Dark Asia with Megan

10 Aug 202214:42

Summary

TLDRIn 'Dark Asia,' Megan Lee delves into the chilling case of Chon Soyun, an 18-year-old aspiring baker whose mutilated body was found under a bag of cement at a construction site. The puzzling murder, with no signs of rape or robbery, and the victim's hands severed, has left investigators stumped. Suspects range from a construction worker with a criminal past to acquaintances of the victim. Despite various leads, the case remains unsolved, with the family still seeking closure after over two decades.

Takeaways

🎓 Chon Soyun was an 18-year-old high school junior with dreams of becoming a baker and was well-liked by her peers.
🕘 Soyun worked part-time at an accessory store and was last seen there on the evening of March 7, 2001, after her boss left around 7 PM.
📞 The store owner tried to contact Soyun at 8:35 PM but received no response, indicating she had gone missing by then.
🏗️ Soyun's body was found by a construction worker under a bag of cement at the construction site near the accessory store the next morning.
🕊️ There were no signs of rape or struggle, and her hands were disturbingly cut off, suggesting a deliberate act by the killer.
🕰️ The estimated time frame for Soyun's disappearance and murder was a 15-minute window between 8:20 and 8:35 PM.
🔍 The police suspected that Soyun either stepped out to meet someone or use the bathroom and was killed at the construction site or elsewhere.
🗑️ Soyun's severed hands were found in a stream, placed deliberately with the palms up, and with excessively short nails, indicating an attempt to destroy evidence.
👣 The investigation initially focused on construction workers due to their access to the site and the use of a pickaxe found at the scene.
👥 Several individuals connected to Soyun emerged as potential suspects, including a construction worker with a criminal record and acquaintances who had contact with her on the day of the incident.
🔮 Despite various leads and suspects, the case remains unsolved, with the police and a cold case investigation unit continuing to search for new information.

Q & A

Who is the host of the podcast 'Dark Asia'?
-The host of the podcast 'Dark Asia' is Megan Lee.
What was Chon Soyun's occupation and aspirations?
-Chon Soyun was an 18-year-old high school student who worked part-time at an accessory store and aspired to become a baker.
When did Chon Soyun go missing?
-Chon Soyun went missing on the evening of March 7, 2001.
What unusual condition was Chon Soyun found in after her disappearance?
-Chon Soyun was found dead with both of her hands severed, and a deep imprint on her neck, but no signs of rape or struggle.
Where were Chon Soyun's severed hands eventually found?
-Chon Soyun's severed hands were found in the water under a stream bridge about 200 meters from the construction site where her body was discovered.
What led the police to initially suspect a construction worker as the killer?
-The discovery of a blood-stained pickaxe at the construction site and the fact that the victim's hands were very cleanly cut off led the police to initially suspect a construction worker.
What evidence made the construction worker Yoon a person of interest in the case?
-Yoon was found to have a promotional pen from the accessory store where Chon Soyun worked, he didn't report the body immediately, and he had a criminal record including for assault.
What was the significance of the bag of cement under which Chon Soyun's body was found?
-The bag of cement was significant because it was on top of which a ballpoint pen with a car brand name was discovered, linking it to a local salesman and construction worker who became a person of interest.
What was the role of the broadcaster's coverage in 2014 in relation to the case?
-The broadcaster's coverage in 2014 brought up a new suspect, a friend of Chon Soyun named Huang, who had sent her numerous messages confessing his love and had called her on the day of the incident.
What new information emerged from a tip-off received by the police in 2018?
-In 2018, a woman who was 10 years old at the time of the murder provided a new account of seeing a suspicious man near the construction site on the evening of the incident, which led to the identification of a new suspect, a carpenter surnamed Kim.
Why was the case considered a cold case and what is the current status of the investigation?
-The case is considered a cold case due to the lack of conclusive evidence and the passage of time. The investigation is ongoing, with the Chumbuk Provincial Police Agency's cold case unit continuing to pursue leads.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Disappearance of Chon Soyun

The first paragraph introduces the story of Chon Soyun, an 18-year-old high school student from Yongdong County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Soyun was a model student with dreams of becoming a baker. She worked part-time at an accessory store and was last seen on March 7, 2001. After her shift, she was supposed to deliver medicine for the store owner but went missing. Her body was found the next morning at a construction site near the store, with both hands severed. The police suspected she was killed during a 15-minute window between 8:20 and 8:35 PM. The store was found with its lights on but the door locked, suggesting Soyun intended to return. The mystery deepens as investigators struggle to determine whether she was killed at the construction site or elsewhere.

05:03

🔍 Investigation and Speculations

The second paragraph delves into the investigation of Soyun's murder. The discovery of her severed hands in a nearby stream, placed deliberately with palms up, adds to the mystery. The absence of DNA evidence on the hands and the timing of their disposal suggest the killer had considered what to do with them. The lack of blood at the construction site where Soyun was found indicates her hands were severed post-mortem. The police initially focused on construction workers due to their access to the site and the murder weapon, a pickaxe. A construction worker named Yoon, who found Soyun's body, becomes a prime suspect due to inconsistencies in his story and physical evidence linking him to the crime. However, the case remains unsolved, with various leads and suspects emerging over time.

10:03

📞 New Suspects and Unraveled Leads

The third paragraph introduces new suspects and leads in the case. A friend of Soyun named Huang, who had previously expressed his love for her, is suspected due to his frequent communication with her on the day of her disappearance. Another friend, Park, is noted for his suspicious absence from school after the discovery of Soyun's hands. A new lead in 2018 from a woman who was 10 years old at the time of the murder suggests a man near the construction site on the evening of the incident. This leads to the suspicion of a carpenter named Kim, whose alibi was not properly confirmed. Despite the various suspects and leads, the case remains unsolved, with the cold case investigation unit continuing to search for answers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡True Crime

True crime refers to a genre of storytelling that explores real-life criminal acts and the circumstances surrounding them. In the video, the host Megan Lee delves into notorious true crime cases and unsolved mysteries of Asia, providing a narrative that captures the essence of this genre. The case of Chon Soyun is presented as an example of a true crime story, highlighting the tragic and mysterious aspects of her murder.

💡Unsolved Mysteries

Unsolved mysteries are cases or incidents that remain without a clear resolution or explanation. In the video, the story of Chon Soyun is categorized as an unsolved mystery because, despite the investigation, the identity of the killer and the motive behind the crime remain unknown, contributing to the intrigue and suspense of the narrative.

💡High School Student

A high school student is a teenager who is enrolled in secondary education. In the context of the video, Chon Soyun is described as an 18-year-old high school student who had dreams of becoming a baker. Her status as a high school student adds a layer of tragedy to the story, as it was a time of life filled with potential and new beginnings.

💡Model Student

A model student is typically characterized by good academic performance, behavior, and participation in school activities. Chon Soyun is described as a model student in the video, indicating that she was well-respected and successful in her studies, which contrasts with the tragic outcome of her story.

💡Part-Time Job

A part-time job is a form of employment where a person works fewer hours than a full-time job. In the script, it is mentioned that Soyun worked part-time at an accessory store after school. This detail provides insight into her responsible nature and contributes to the overall picture of her character.

💡Murder

Murder refers to the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being. The video script revolves around the murder of Chon Soyun, detailing the circumstances of her death and the subsequent investigation. The term is central to the theme of the video, as it sets the stage for the exploration of the crime and its impact.

💡Strangulation

Strangulation is the act of intentionally restricting someone's breathing by applying pressure to the neck. In the video, it is suggested that Chon Soyun was strangled, as indicated by the deep imprint found on her neck, which is a key piece of evidence in the murder investigation.

💡Severed Hands

Severed hands refer to hands that have been cut off from the body. A disturbing detail in the case of Chon Soyun is that both of her hands were found cut off, which is a gruesome and mysterious element of the crime. The video discusses the discovery of her hands in a stream, raising questions about the killer's motive and actions.

💡Construction Site

A construction site is a location where buildings or infrastructure are being built or repaired. In the video, the construction site is significant as it is where Chon Soyun's body was discovered. The site's characteristics, such as being dark and isolated, play a role in the investigation and the speculation about the killer's familiarity with the area.

💡Suspect

A suspect is a person who is thought to have committed a crime and is under investigation. The video mentions several individuals who were considered suspects in the murder of Chon Soyun, including a construction worker who found her body and others who had connections to her. The term is important as it highlights the investigative process and the search for the perpetrator.

💡Cold Case

A cold case refers to a criminal investigation that has gone cold, meaning no new leads or suspects have been identified for a long period. The video concludes by mentioning that the case remains unsolved, with the Chumbuk Provincial Police Agency continuing its pursuit of the killer, emphasizing the ongoing nature of cold cases and the hope for resolution.

Highlights

Introduction to the podcast 'Dark Asia' with Megan Lee, focusing on true crime cases and unsolved mysteries in Asia.

Story of Chon Soyun, an 18-year-old girl with dreams of becoming a baker, who went missing on March 7, 2001.

Soyun's disappearance occurred during a 15-minute window while working alone at an accessory store.

Discovery of Soyun's body under a bag of cement at a construction site with a deep imprint on her neck but no signs of rape or struggle.

Both of Soyun's hands were cut off, raising questions about the killer's motive and method.

Police suspicion that Soyun was killed during her shift based on the store's locked door and unclosed shutters.

Investigation of the construction site where a blood-stained pickaxe was found, suggesting the murder weapon.

The puzzling discovery of Soyun's severed hands in a stream, placed deliberately with short nails, indicating an attempt to destroy evidence.

Analysis suggesting the hands were discarded hours before being found, challenging the timeline of the murder.

Speculation about the killer's familiarity with the construction site and the difficulty of public access.

Introduction of a new suspect, a construction worker named Yoon, who found Soyun's body and had a criminal record.

Yoon's inconsistent behavior and the discovery of a promotional pen linking him to the crime scene.

The revelation of fractures on Soyun's wrists, indicating the killer was not as skilled as initially thought.

Introduction of other suspects, including Soyun's friend Huang, who had a history of confessing his love to her.

The suspicious behavior of Soyun's friend Park, who was absent from school after the discovery of her hands.

A new tip-off in 2018 from a woman recalling a suspicious man near the construction site on the night of the murder.

The naming of a new suspect, a carpenter named Kim, whose alibi was not properly confirmed.

The ongoing pursuit of the killer by the cold case investigation unit, with hopes for new information to provide closure to Soyun's family.