South KoreanCriminalSerial KillerExecuted

Oen Bo-hyun

Oen Bo-hyun was a South Korean spree killer and rapist who committed multiple rapes and two murders in Seoul in September 1994, leading to his conviction, death sentence, and 1995 execution.

1. Overview

Oen Bo-Hyun (온보현On Bo-hyeonKorean, April 6, 1957 - November 2, 1995) was a South Korean spree killer and rapist who committed a series of violent crimes in Seoul during September 1994, resulting in the rape of multiple women and the murder of two. His actions, which unfolded shortly after the widely publicized Chijon family killings, caused significant public alarm and anxiety across the country, particularly regarding the safety of women and the use of public transportation. Oen Bo-Hyun eventually surrendered to the police, leading to an extensive investigation. He was subsequently tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. His execution in November 1995, alongside other notorious violent criminals, marked a significant moment in South Korea's response to heinous crimes.

2. Life and Crimes

Oen Bo-Hyun's criminal spree in September 1994 involved a series of kidnappings, rapes, and murders, primarily targeting women, and creating widespread fear in South Korea.

2.1. Birth and Background

Oen Bo-Hyun was born on April 6, 1957, and was executed on November 2, 1995. Before his crime spree, he worked as a taxi driver.

2.2. Criminal Acts

Oen Bo-Hyun's criminal acts in September 1994 were characterized by opportunistic attacks using a stolen taxi, often followed by sexual assault and, in two cases, murder.

  • September 1, 1994: At approximately 1 AM, Oen Bo-Hyun, driving a stolen Stella taxi, picked up a karaoke hostess, identified as Ms. Kwon, on Baekje Gobun-ro in Songpa District, Seoul. He threatened her and then raped her on a nearby road. He subsequently drove her to his hometown, a mountainous area in Seonam-ri, Geumgu-myeon, Gimje County, North Jeolla Province, where he raped her again. He then tied her to a nearby tree with a string.
  • September 11, 1994: At around 7:30 PM, Oen picked up Ms. Eom in Doksan-dong, Guro District, Seoul. He threatened her with a weapon and kidnapped her, taking her to a mountain in Hoengseong County, Gangwon Province. There, he raped her and stole 310.00 K KRW in cash.
  • September 12, 1994: At approximately 9:30 PM, Oen kidnapped Ms. Heo in front of the POSCO Building in Seocho-dong, Seocho District, Seoul. He drove her to Hoengseong, Gangwon Province. The following day, September 13, at around 5:30 PM, he dragged Ms. Heo to a mountain near Singal-dong in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. He attempted to rape her, but when she resisted, he suffocated her with a plastic bag, killing her. He then abandoned her body at the site.
  • September 14, 1994: Around 9 PM, Oen kidnapped Ms. Park, who was returning home, from a street in front of Garak Catholic Church in Garak-dong, Songpa District, Seoul. After taking her into his taxi, Ms. Park resisted, prompting Oen to fatally stab her with a weapon. He then discarded her body near the upper or lower lines of the Gyeongbu Expressway in Daesin 3-ri, Apo-myeon, Geumneung County, Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province.

3. Arrest and Investigation

Oen Bo-Hyun's crime spree ended with his surrender, followed by a thorough investigation to confirm the extent of his criminal activities.

3.1. Surrender and Arrest

Oen Bo-Hyun surrendered to the Seocho Police Station on September 27, 1994. His surrender was largely attributed to the immense psychological pressure he felt following the recent arrest of the notorious Chijon family, another criminal group that had committed a series of heinous murders and kidnappings, drawing significant public attention and police scrutiny.

3.2. Investigation Process

Following Oen Bo-Hyun's arrest, extensive on-site verifications were conducted by the prosecution and police. These verifications were overseen by Prosecutor Hong Joon-pyo of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. On-site inspections were carried out at crucial locations, including the Gyeongbu Expressway in Geumneung County, where Ms. Park was murdered, and the Ojeong-ri mountain in Guseong-myeon, Yongin, where Ms. Heo was killed. Police initially stated that there were no additional victims beyond the six known cases, including the two murders and the four sexual assault incidents. However, investigators paid close attention to the time gaps between the kidnapping of Ms. Kwon on September 1 and Ms. Eom on September 11, exploring the possibility of other crimes Oen might have committed during this period. Despite these efforts, no other crimes were definitively linked back to him.

4. Social Impact and Reaction

Oen Bo-Hyun's crime spree, occurring shortly after other high-profile serial killer cases, had a profound and unsettling impact on South Korean society, triggering widespread fear and prompting expert analysis of such criminal behavior.

4.1. Public Reaction

The uncovering of Oen Bo-Hyun's crimes immediately after the Chijon family's arrests caused a considerable social uproar. Citizens voiced intense anxiety and fear over the continuous emergence of such brutal serial murder cases. The crime spree led to a significant change in public behavior, particularly among women, who became extremely reluctant to use taxis late at night due to safety concerns. In response to these widespread fears, various precautions and guidelines, such as "The Ten Commandments for women riding in late night taxis," were distributed to help prevent further incidents and reassure the public.

4.2. Analysis of Serial Killers

In an interview conducted in August 2006, Professor Pyo Chang-won of the Korean National Police University, an expert in criminal psychology, provided an analysis of the common backgrounds and motivations of serial killers such as the Chijon Family, Oen Bo-Hyun, and Yoo Young-chul. Professor Pyo pointed out that these individuals often share a background marred by distorted psychological states, unresolved childhood issues, and deep-seated dissatisfaction with society. He further analyzed a common tendency among them to rationalize their personal failures and frustrations by externalizing blame onto society. According to Pyo, they believed society was "corrupt" and viewed their crimes as a form of "punishment" or "retribution" against this perceived corruption, enabling them to justify their violent acts.