Kim So-young, 20, the suspect in the motel serial murders, has reportedly described the 30 million won (approximately $22,500) damages claim filed by the victims' families as "money I could never repay in my lifetime." She requested that the families only seek an amount she could realistically pay.
According to Yonhap News TV on July 15, Kim expressed her concerns in a handwritten response submitted to the court in May regarding the damages lawsuit totaling 30 million won against her and her parents. She stated, "The 12% interest on the overdue amount is a huge burden that I cannot pay at all."
Initially, the families estimated damages at around 1.1 billion won, but they adjusted their claim considering the costs of the lawsuit and Kim's ability to repay.
Kim also argued that it was unreasonable to demand damages from her mother, stating, "I committed this crime as an adult, so it is unfair to hold my parents responsible." However, she acknowledged her father's potential civil liability, citing neglect and the psychological harm caused by domestic violence and verbal abuse during her childhood.
She insisted, "The plaintiffs should bear the costs of the lawsuit. The amount they are claiming is so large that I could never pay it off in my lifetime. Please only seek an amount that I can earn and repay throughout my life."
Kim has also submitted a statement expressing her feelings of injustice regarding the ongoing criminal trial. She claimed, "I was shocked when I learned that my two brothers (the victims) had died. I had no intention or plan to kill anyone. I deeply regret my brief thought of giving them drugs to stop the sexual assault. I was terrified, recalling past experiences of similar sexual assault without consent."
Kim has been charged with causing the deaths of two men and rendering one unconscious by mixing benzodiazepine drugs into drinks from December last year to February this year. Additional charges have been filed for injuring three other men using similar methods in April.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for July 23.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.