Lee Ji-hye Moved to Tears by 18-Year-Old Cold Case on 'Smoking Gun'

Lee Ji-hye, wife of Moon Jae-wan, was moved to tears by a harrowing rape and murder case.

On the October 31st episode of 'Smoking Gun', airing at 9:45 PM, the show will reveal the horrifying details of a crime that remained unsolved for 18 years, titled “Who Killed the Girl’s Mother?” - the Nowon rape and murder case.

On October 27, 1998, at 3 PM, an elementary school student, tearful and distressed, knocked on a neighbor's door saying, “Something’s wrong with my mom.” Inside, they found the mother brutally murdered. The investigation began immediately, and soon after, the police identified a suspect who had used the victim's credit card. Despite being on the wanted list, the suspect repeatedly evaded capture. By June 2000, the case went cold. The show delves into the identity of the perpetrator behind this heinous crime.

The lead detective recalled interviewing the victim's young daughter, the first to discover the crime, stating it was “heartbreaking.” Driven by a promise to catch the perpetrator, the detective pursued the case for 18 years. In 2016, the investigation resumed, akin to a movie plot, slowly uncovering the suspect from a pool of 8,000 individuals. Ann Hyun-mo expressed admiration for the detective's relentless pursuit, saying, “It’s amazing how he never forgot the suspect for 18 years.” Lee Ji-hye added, “I can’t understand how the perpetrator could live normally after destroying a family so thoroughly,” and tearfully reflected on the pain endured by the victim’s family.

The episode features Kim Eung-hee, the former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Regional Investigation Unit, who shares the detailed process of his 18-year pursuit to capture the criminal. Additionally, Lim Si-geun, a former National Forensic Service researcher, discusses the pivotal role of DNA analysis in identifying the suspect.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr