True Crime

The downfall of a dictator’s spy chief

"His Excellency doesn't allow his second-in-command to live." In the 2020 movie "The Man Standing Next," the character Park Yong-gak, based on former Korean Central Intelligence Agency chief Kim Hyung-wook, utters the ominous line about then-President Park Chung-hee. Kim, once at the pinnacle of power, went missing after last being seen at a hotel casino in Paris on Oct. 7, 1979. This episode delves into conspiracy theories surrounding the mysterious death of Kim Hyung-wook, an intelligence chief-turned-whistleblower under the Park Chung-hee dictatorship. Related article: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10723619 Credits Reporting & writing: Yoon Min-sik Editing: Lee Sun-young, Devin Whiting Hosts & guests: Devin Whiting, Yoon Min-sik Producer: Park Jun-hee Audio editing: Noh Seong-min Artwork: Yu Soo-in

When fantasy became fatal

Human fascination with mysticism and the afterlife has endured for millennia -- from protective spells in ancient Mesopotamia to prohibitions against magic in the Hebrew Bible, from necromancy in folklore across cultures to the hysteria of the Salem witch trials, where more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Today, few people would still believe it is truly possible to cast a curse or summon the dead. But in 2012 in South Korea, a small group of teenagers and young adults became engrossed in just such ideas. This episode examines how an online forum devoted to summoning spirits crossed the line from dark fascination into deadly action, culminating in the murder of a 20-year-old college student — once one of their own. Related article: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10702769 Credits Reporting & writing: Yoon Min-sik Editing: Lee Sun-young, Devin Whiting Hosts & guests: Devin Whiting, Yoon Min-sik Producer: Park Jun-hee Audio editing: Noh Seong-min Artwork: Yu Soo-in

Monster side of 'Molar Daddy'

Lee Young-hak was once the darling of South Korea. The public gave him the nickname "Molar Daddy" after the rare disease, known as gigantiform cementoma, that caused disfigurement of his and his daughter's mouths. But a horrifying truth was uncovered a decade later. In 2017, the nation was stunned by the news that the once-beloved Molar Daddy was facing murder and sexual assault charges. This episode will delve into how the father and daughter turned out to be accomplices in a heinous crime, and how many people were blinded by his tearjerker of a life story that concealed his dark side. Related article: Credits Reporting & writing: Yoon Min-sik Editing: Lee Sun-young, Devin Whiting Hosts & guests: Devin Whiting, Yoon Min-sik Producer: Park Jun-hee Audio editing: Noh Seong-min Artwork: Yu Soo-in

Killing in the name of love

Countless murders have occurred in this world. Some driven by rage, others by revenge or by money. But what if someone kills without hatred, without greed, claiming instead that they did it out of love? What if the victims were not strangers, but one’s own parents, wife and children? This episode is about a man who killed his entire family, believing he was protecting them from future hardship. Related article: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10678062 Credits Reporting & writing: Shin Ji-hye Editing: Lee Sun-young, Devin Whiting Hosts & guests: Devin Whiting, Yoon Min-sik Producer: Park Jun-hee Audio editing: Noh Seong-min Artwork: Yu Soo-in

He killed his parents. They killed his soul

In May 2000, in South Korea, a young man from what appeared to be an ordinary, middle-class family murdered both of his parents. He was 23, enrolled at one of the country’s top universities, and had never shown signs of violence. As investigators dug deeper, the case shifted from a question of how the crime happened to why. What emerged was a childhood shaped by crushing expectations, constant comparison, and years of physical and emotional abuse. This episode examines the Lee Eun-seok case, the story of a son who was never enough, and the moment he reached his breaking point. Related article: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10662969 Credits Reporting & writing: Yoon Min-sik Editing: Lee Sun-young, Devin Whiting Hosts & guests: Devin Whiting, Yoon Min-sik Producer: Song Seung-hyun Audio editing: Noh Seong-min Artwork: Yu Soo-in