Man sent to prosecutors for allegedly murdering mother-in-law, kidnapping wife

Police on Tuesday referred 26-year-old Kim Sung-woo to prosecutors in southern Seoul for allegedly murdering his mother-in-law and kidnapping his wife on Oct. 11. Police said Kim allegedly stabbed the woman at her home, assaulted his wife while confining her in his vehicle, and was arrested in Yangyang County. Investigators suspect the alleged crimes were retaliation for his wife’s marriage annulment suit.

Police recommended charges of retaliatory murder, retaliatory confinement, aggravated assault, stalking and domestic violence law violations.

Kim allegedly stalked his wife 18 times between Sept. 16 and Oct. 11 by waiting near her in-law’s home.

Kim’s wife applied for divorce mediation in August before withdrawing it to seek an annulment of their marriage.

Police said Kim claimed the murder was not premeditated and that he had sought to talk to his wife.

Published Oct 20, 2026 9:53 am KST

Murder suspect Kim Sung-woo, accused of murdering his mother-in-law and kidnapping his wife / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

Police on Tuesday referred a man to the prosecution for allegedly murdering his mother-in-law and kidnapping his wife, officials said.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Kim Sung-woo, is accused of stabbing his mother-in-law to death at her home in southern Seoul on Oct. 11 before kidnapping his wife who had been staying there, according to the Seoul Songpa Police Station.

Kim allegedly assaulted his wife in the face when she was confined in his vehicle before police rescued her and took him into custody in Yangyang County, about 150 kilometers east of Seoul, hours after the alleged murder.

The police station said it recommended charges of retaliatory murder, retaliatory confinement, aggravated assault and violations of laws on stalking and domestic violence against Kim to the prosecution.

Kim's wife had applied for divorce mediation in August before withdrawing it to seek an annulment of their marriage.

The suspect had stalked his wife on 18 occasions between Sept. 16 to Oct. 11, waiting for her near his in-law's home, the police said.

Investigators are putting weight on the possibility that Kim planned the crime as retaliation against the marriage annulment suit.

Kim has told investigators that the murder was not premeditated and that he had sought to talk to his wife, according to the police.

周二，警方将26岁的金成宇（音译）移交首尔南部检方，指控其于10月11日涉嫌杀害岳母并绑架妻子。警方称，金成宇涉嫌在其岳母家中刺伤她，并将妻子囚禁在车内殴打，随后在襄阳郡被捕。调查人员怀疑，金成宇的犯罪行为是对其妻子提起婚姻无效诉讼的报复。

警方建议以报复性谋杀、报复性非法拘禁、严重袭击、跟踪和违反家庭暴力法等罪名对其提起诉讼。

据称，金某在 9 月 16 日至 10 月 11 日期间，18 次在婆家附近徘徊，跟踪他的妻子。

金某的妻子在8月份申请离婚调解，之后撤回申请，转而寻求婚姻无效。

警方称，金某声称这起谋杀并非预谋，他曾试图与妻子交谈。

发布于2026年10月20日上午9:53（韩国标准时间）

涉嫌谋杀岳母并绑架妻子的嫌疑人金成宇 / 图片由首尔地方警察厅提供

警方周二表示，一名男子因涉嫌谋杀岳母和绑架妻子而被移送检方。

据首尔松坡警察署称，这名男子名叫金成宇，26岁，被控于10月11日在首尔南部家中刺死岳母，随后绑架了住在那里的妻子。

据称，金某在将妻子囚禁于车内后，殴打了她的脸部。数小时后，警方在首尔以东约 150 公里的襄阳郡将金某逮捕并拘留。

警方表示，已建议检方对金某提起报复性谋杀、报复性非法拘禁、严重袭击以及违反跟踪和家庭暴力相关法律的指控。

金的妻子在8月份申请了离婚调解，之后撤回了申请，转而寻求婚姻无效。

警方称，嫌疑人在9月16日至10月11日期间，曾18次跟踪他的妻子，并在岳父岳母家附近等候她。

调查人员正在重视金某策划这起犯罪的可能性，以此报复婚姻无效诉讼。

据警方称，金某告诉调查人员，这起谋杀案并非预谋，他曾试图与妻子交谈。