Almost nothing was left behind at the crime scene—no fingerprints, no DNA and no obvious suspect. This week's episode of KBS2's "Smoking Gun" revisits the infamous Gwanak mother-and-son murder, examining how investigators unraveled what initially appeared to be the perfect crime.
Rather than focusing solely on the shocking outcome, the program retraces the investigation from its earliest moments, showing how detectives pieced together a case that at first seemed impossible to solve.
In August 2019, concern grew after a six-year-old boy who had never missed kindergarten failed to appear without explanation. Unable to reach the family, relatives went to their apartment, where they discovered the mother and son dead inside the bedroom.
The crime scene offered investigators virtually nothing to work with. With no identifiable fingerprints, DNA or footprints, even veteran forensic specialists found themselves confronting one of the most challenging investigations of their careers.
The breakthrough came not from a dramatic confession, but from patient detective work. An overlooked clue recovered from the bed, together with CCTV footage recorded on the night of the killings, gradually reshaped the investigation. As the evidence came together, detectives uncovered a suspect whose identity stunned everyone involved.
The revelation left the studio panel visibly shaken.
Ahn Hyun-mo admitted she never imagined the investigation would lead to that person, while Lee Ji-hye became emotional as she reflected on the innocent victims whose lives were taken.
Senior Inspector Kim Han-byeol of the Korean National Police University's Institute of Public Safety and Security joins the episode to explain why the investigation proved so difficult and how detectives ultimately solved the case despite the absence of conventional forensic evidence.
Psychiatrist Lee Gwang-min also examines the psychological profile of the offender, exploring how distorted self-perception and a warped mindset contributed to the crime.
KBS2's "Smoking Gun" airs July 7 at 9:45 p.m. KST.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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