

Authorities had discovered pubic hair at the scene which were a partial match for Yoon’s, and most incredibly of all, Yoon actually confessed to the murder.ĭetails of Yoon’s criminal past are scarce, so it’s unclear whether or not Yoon had a history of violent behavior. In 1989, police bought in 22-year-old Yoon Sang-Yeo under suspicion of murdering the young girl. He inspired a copycatĪs mentioned, Lee’s eighth murder – that of 14-year-old Park Sang-hee – is a notable part of his legacy.

Unfortunately for Lee, tracking him down wasn’t an issue, as he had already been apprehended due to another crime and was serving a life sentence in Busan Prison. Perhaps they would have remained unsolved had Lee not confessed. It was indisputable evidence, however, Lee protested his innocence, claiming no involvement with the killings. For 33 years, in fact.īut forensic DNA tests carried out in 2019 linked Lee with nine of the murders.
#ZODIAC KILLER VICTIMS PHOTOS SERIAL#
Much like the Zodiac, the Hwaseong serial killings went unsolved for over three decades. Lee’s similarities with the Zodiac go deeper than simple murder. Lee was taken in by police and eventually sentenced to 2 years of probation. However, Lee was caught by the owner and fought off. He was armed with weapons (although he never used weapons during his murders) and may have been planning on attacking and killing the homeowner. In September 1989, less than two weeks after his first murder, Lee was caught invading a home. He was apprehended – but for robbery charges It’s unclear how many people escaped and how many he was able to subdue. By his own admission, he committed anywhere between an additional 30-45 attempted rapes. Sidenote: Obsessed with serial killers and art? Check out this serial killer coloring book on Amazon - yes, it is a real thing.īut not only that, Lee also confessed to further assaults after being caught. With every subsequent victim, semen was discovered at the crime scene.

As far as records show, the only one of his victims he didn’t rape (that we know of) was his first, the 71-year-old. The most probable belief is that rape was Lee’s primary goal. Not only did Lee rape the majority of his victims before he killed them, but he was also responsible for three times as many attempted rapes between 19. It was a slight deviation from his usual MO, and it went on to play an important part in Lee’s story. His eighth victim, Park Sang-hee, was a 14-year-old schoolgirl who Lee killed while she slept. He killed a total of 10 women in the same manner, usually in public areas and by strangling them with either his hands or an item of their clothing. Lee’s first victim was a 71 year old woman who he blitz-attacked in a field then strangled her with his bare hands. It is believed that Lee targeted women of these particular ages because he was more likely able to overpower them. They ranged between the ages of 13-71, killing victims in their twenties, fifties and sixties. Strangely, Lee had no particular victim type providing they were female. He would often lurk in the shadows, watching his victims, following them home and waiting for the right moment to strike. He was responsible for the murder of at least ten womenīeginning in September, 1986, Lee targeted women who he deemed vulnerable. To this day, the case remains one of the worst cases of multiple homicide in South Korea. By the end of the investigation, police said they'd actually interviewed over 21,000 people – a record which still remains in 2020. The killings actually sparked the largest manhunt in the history of South Korea, with a total of over 2 million man-days spent researching, investigating and interviewing people of interest. For five years between 19, he held the city of Hwaseong, South Korea gripped with fear as more and more women fell victim to his attacks. However, Lee was actually responsible for more atrocities than the Zodiac by a large margin. Lee Chun-jae is often referred to as the Korean Zodiac due to their crimes sharing similarities. One of the most prolific Korean serial killers Here’s everything you need to know about Lee Choon-jae and the Hwaseong serial murders.
#ZODIAC KILLER VICTIMS PHOTOS FULL#
His story is equal parts fascinating as it is tragic, and only recently (October 2019) did the full extent of his crimes become known. Lee Choon-jae spent five years raping and murdering throughout the city of Hwaseong, South Korea, eventually becoming one of the most infamous serial killers in Asia. However, Lee Choon-jae is a name that should be spoken alongside Richard Ramirez, BTK and the Golden State Killer. You might not have heard the name Lee Choon-jae, or the Hwaseong serial murders - especially if you’re from the Western world.
