South Korean Police Find Woman Dead in Café Freezer Amid Forgery Probe
South Korean police found a woman in her 60s dead in a café freezer in Paju alongside millions in counterfeit gift certificates. The café operator in his 30s was arrested as investigators examine potential links between the forged vouchers and her homicide.
South Korean police have discovered the body of a woman in her 60s inside an industrial freezer at a café in the city of Paju, alongside a massive stash of counterfeit gift certificates valued in the hundreds of billions of won, equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars. Authorities have arrested the café's operator, a man in his 30s, on suspicion of involvement in her death while investigating the origin of the forged vouchers.
Investigation and Surveillance Footage
According to the South Korean newspaper The Hankyoreh, the victim arrived at the café on the third day of the month to discuss a business transaction regarding gift certificates with the operator. Security camera footage captured the pair entering the freezer together, but only the man was seen exiting afterward.
Police are currently working to determine the exact sequence of events, examining whether the woman was killed at the scene or trapped inside and left to die. Forensic examinations are underway to ascertain the precise cause of death. The suspect was apprehended in Seoul on the same day the body was discovered, and a local court approved his detention amid concerns of flight risk and evidence tampering.
Counterfeit Vouchers and Motive
Investigators suspect that the forged certificates are directly linked to the homicide. Authorities believe the operator lured the woman to the premises under the guise of a personal business deal involving the vouchers, and the meeting turned violent after she allegedly uncovered the fraudulent scheme.
«The café had been closed since the third of the month, and the operator had instructed his employees not to report to work.»
According to the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper, the establishment had been shut down, and staff were told to stay away. Alongside running the café, the suspect engaged in buying and selling gift certificates to convert them into cash. Investigators are tracing how the counterfeit vouchers were acquired and whether any had already been circulated.
Facility Details and Next Steps
The freezer where the body was found is a container-like structure measuring approximately 30 square meters, located adjacent to the main café building. Police are examining digital records and surveillance footage to establish a precise timeline and determine whether the fatal encounter was premeditated or escalated during the meeting. Authorities have not yet disclosed the suspect's statement, emphasizing that further forensic tests are required before finalizing the cause of death.
