Chinese Lecturer Accused of Killing and Dismembering Student in South Korea
- Zheng Changsheng, a 31-year-old Chinese lecturer in South Korea, has been referred to prosecutors for allegedly killing and dismembering a 25-year-old female graduate student who took his class.
- The alleged murder took place in the early hours of August 20, at the suspect's studio apartment in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, according to police records.
- Investigators report that during an argument, the victim threatened to report their relationship to the university.
Zheng Changsheng, a 31-year-old Chinese lecturer in South Korea, has been referred to prosecutors for allegedly killing and dismembering a 25-year-old female graduate student who took his class. Investigators state the suspect acted out of fear that their romantic relationship would be exposed and cost him his job.
The August 20 Killing in Gyeongsan
The alleged murder took place in the early hours of August 20, at the suspect’s studio apartment in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, according to police records. The victim, also a Chinese citizen, had flown into South Korea on August 14 to collect her master’s diploma and vanished on the night of her ceremony.
Investigators report that during an argument, the victim threatened to report their relationship to the university.
Disposing of Remains and Faking Movements
Following the killing, the suspect allegedly mutilated the victim’s body and abandoned the remains in multiple locations, including Gyeongju and Gunpo in Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul. Police reports indicate that Zheng filed a false missing-person report and posed as the victim’s boyfriend to throw investigators off his trail. Investigators also accuse him of dressing in women’s clothing, traveling to Dongdaegu Station, and turning off the victim’s phone to fake her movements.
Arrest, Court Order and Public Naming
The Daegu District Court ordered him held over flight concerns. Local police publicly named the suspect and released his photograph, a disclosure authorized until October 1 by a naming panel citing crime brutality, evidentiary strength, and the need to prevent further offenses.
Pending Charges and Ongoing Investigations
A polygraph test indicated no signs of deception regarding his motive, while a Psychopathy Checklist-Revised assessment yielded a score below the threshold used in South Korea to classify someone as a psychopath.
The Chinese consulate in Busan has called for a full investigation and severe punishment. Police stated that searches for unrecovered remains will continue, and authorities are investigating separate allegations that Zheng threatened other female students regarding their graduation.
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