Policewoman’s Kidnapper Arrested

The Seoul Nowon police arrested Sohn, a 23-year-old male college student in the kidnapping of Lee, a 28-year-old policewoman yesterday.

According to police, Sohn forced the policewoman as she leaving her house in Nowon-gu for work at 9:00 a.m. yesterday into a white Espero car and drove for three hours around the Euijeongbu, Goyang, and Yeongdeungpo-gu neighborhoods of Seoul.

Sohn had dated Lee since last February after meeting her on one of her patrols, but when Lee tried to break up with him, he began threatening her by phone, saying, “I’ll kill you if you don’t meet me again.”

Lee reported her kidnapping to the police using her cell phone to send a text message, and the police discovered Sohn’s car in Goyang city. Sohn took the freeway into Seoul, collided with a taxi, and drove off toward Yeongdeongpo Circle.

Lee attempted an illegal U-turn due to a traffic jam at the circle, but was apprehended by police stationed there in anticipation of another truck driver strike.

weappon@donga.com