Unveiling the Grisly Truth Behind the Idong-sik Case in 'Hyungsooda' Season 2

The second season of 'Hyungsooda' delves into the chilling Idong-sik case, notorious for its gruesome depiction of death.

On the 6th, the E-channel original web variety show 'Hyungsooda' Season 2 (hereafter 'Hyungsooda2') will air its 31st episode on the YouTube channel 'Detectives' Chat'. The episode features former judge-turned-lawyer Jung Jae-min and Kim Nam-il, continuing from last week.

While browsing through a 1983 newspaper article, profiler Kwon Il-yong reminisces about receiving 2,000 paper cranes from two people during his high school days, referencing Jeon Young-rok's popular song 'Paper Crane'. Kim Nam-il humorously questions, “Did they not fold them themselves?” sparking laughter. An impromptu duet of 'Paper Crane' by Ahn Jung-hwan and Kwon Il-yong adds to the light-hearted moment.

This episode focuses on 'Death Row Chat', stories of executed death row inmates in South Korea. The Idong-sik case, which gained attention after being reported as an overseas topic in Japan, is highlighted. Despite the case's closure, the true extent of the victims remains unclear.

The case began in the winter of 1983 when a woman's body was discovered in Hoam Mountain. Local children found the naked body among dry leaves, prompting a police investigation. The body showed no signs of trauma or resistance, and the cold weather had prevented decomposition.

Investigators began tracking suspects by examining the victim's acquaintances. It was revealed that the victim had recently started working at a disreputable barbershop. The investigation focused on her acquaintances and regular customers, leading to a man who introduced himself as a photographer.

The man, Idong-sik, presented numerous photos he claimed were his works. These images were bizarre and shocking, depicting scenes reminiscent of death, such as women hanging or bleeding, and a woman on a coffin. Idong-sik described these as capturing “the most beautiful moment of a human, death,” a statement that baffled investigators.

While showing off his photos, Idong-sik attempted to hide one image, which depicted a woman lying on leaves with her face covered by a white cloth. Could this be the victim? The clues led detectives to uncover the horrifying truth of Idong-sik's crimes. Ahn Jung-hwan expressed his outrage, stating, “I don't even want to call him a person.”

The case took a new turn when Idong-sik's ex-wife's brothers visited the police station after the case was reported in the newspaper. Despite the shocking nature of his crimes, Idong-sik maintained absurd excuses, and the reasons for the case's swift closure are explored in 'Hyungsooda2'.

'Hyungsooda2' airs every Friday at 7 PM on the YouTube channel 'Detectives' Chat'.

Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr