Chinese student found dead; man who reported her missing arrested as suspect

Police said Wednesday that a Chinese student who had been reported missing was found dead the previous day at the home of a fellow Chinese national in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, prompting the Chinese consulate to demand severe punishment for the perpetrator.

Investigators said a Chinese man in his 30s, surnamed Jeong, was arrested as a suspect and is being questioned.

The victim, a 25-year-old graduate student in Gyeongsan, was found at Jeong’s residence.

According to police, the victim had returned to China during her summer break before coming back to Korea on Aug. 14 to attend her graduation ceremony on Aug. 20.

She lost contact with her family and acquaintances on the day of the ceremony.

Jeong reported her missing at about 7 p.m. the following day, identifying himself as the victim’s boyfriend.

Jeong told police that she had told him she was going to Daegu, about 15 kilometers from Gyeongsan, but that he had since been unable to reach her.

Suspicion later fell on Jeong after investigators noticed inconsistencies in his statements while questioning him initially as a witn