A 25-year-old Chinese postgraduate student has been found dead in Daegu, South Korea, after disappearing while visiting her university to collect her graduation certificate.
The woman, who had studied at Daegu Catholic University, reportedly went missing on the evening of August 20. Police discovered her body on August 25 and arrested a man in his 30s in connection with the case.
According to reports by South Korean media including Yonhap News Agency and JoongAng Ilbo, the victim had already completed her studies and returned to China, where she had secured employment. She travelled back to South Korea on August 14 to collect her graduation certificate, which she was due to receive on August 20.
However, she reportedly lost contact with her family one day before the scheduled collection. Concerned relatives subsequently reported her disappearance, prompting police to launch a search.
Investigators later discovered that parts of the victim’s remains had allegedly been dismembered and abandoned. Police also arrested a male suspect, who was reportedly acquainted with the victim.
The university subsequently revealed that the suspect was actually a lecturer at the same institution. He had reportedly taught subjects including rehabilitation therapy and neuroanatomy during the first semester and was expected to continue teaching similar subjects in the second semester.
Police are investigating the relationship between the victim and suspect as they work to establish the motive and reconstruct what happened before her death. Both individuals were reportedly Chinese nationals and knew each other, with the suspect allegedly having shown particular concern towards the victim because they shared the same nationality.
Investigators further alleged that the pair entered the suspect’s residence together at around 2pm on August 20. Following the killing, the suspect allegedly took the victim’s mobile phone and wore her clothing before travelling by bus to Dongdaegu Station.
He reportedly switched off the victim’s phone before changing clothes at a nearby toilet and returning home. Authorities also alleged that he later claimed to be the woman’s boyfriend when reporting her missing, potentially in an attempt to mislead investigators.
Police are continuing to search for the remaining remains and investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. The victim’s sudden disappearance and the arrest of someone from her own university have since drawn widespread attention to the case.
