Kang Ho-sun

Kang Ho-sun (born October 10, 1969) is a South Korean serial killer who was sentenced to death in 2010 for killing 10 women, including his wife and mother-in-law.

Murders

The murders took place in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. His first victim was Bae, a 45-year-old karaoke bar employee, followed by three murders in 2007 including a 48-year-old housewife and a 21-year-old student from Suwon; their bodies were found in the woods. Kang was arrested by the police in 2009 and following the two-day investigation that ensued, he confessed to 10 murders. More victim remains have since been discovered and identified using DNA evidence. The families of the victims sued Kang for damages.

Trial and sentence

Upon confessing to murdering 10 women, Kang was found guilty of rape, murder and arson and was sentenced to death by a court in Ansan on 22 April 2009. While death by hanging remains on South Korea's statute books, an informal moratorium on the Korean death sentence has been in place since 1997.

Confirmed victims of Kang Ho-sun

• Bae, 45, employed at a karaoke bar in Gunpo, on December 14, 2006
• Park, 37, employed at a karaoke bar in Suwon, on December 24, 2006
• Park, 52, office employee at Hwaseong, on January 3, 2007
• Kim, 37, employed in a karaoke bar in Anyang, on January 7, 2007
• Yeon, 20, university student in Suwon, on January 7, 2007
• Kim, 48, housewife in Suwon, on November 9, 2008
• University Student, 21, in Ansan, on December 19, 2008
• Mother-in-law of Kang Ho-sun
• Wife of Kang Ho-sun

Prison life

During his early days in prison, Kang acted like a king of the other prisoners and never seemed apologetic or remorseful, according to a prison officer. He said Kang seemed to realize his position only after Jung Nam-gyu, a serial killer who was also sentenced to death, committed suicide because of the pressure of death penalty.