[KoreaCase] German hotel exorcism murder case


 In 2015, a group of five Koreans killed a Korean woman, Lee Mi-ra (41), by beating her in a hotel room in Frankfurt, Germany. The motive for the incident was a Protestant exorcism ritual, as the group believed that Lee was possessed by evil spirits and sought to drive them out.

The sequence of events is as follows: Lee Mi-ra, her husband Nam Hak-kyu (42), their two sons (15 and 13), along with Min Ji-young (41) and her two sons (15 and 14), and Mr. Kim (44) with his children (a 21-year-old son and a 19-year-old daughter), totaling ten people, arrived in Germany. They rented a house in the western part of Frankfurt am Main, avoiding contact with the outside world and not speaking English or German. Neighbors reported witnessing the group praying loudly at night, making strange noises.

A week after their arrival in Germany, Lee's younger son began to claim that he was possessed by a ghost. Mr. Kim believed this and suggested that the group perform an exorcism. When Lee's second son exhibited unusual behavior, the group began to shout, "In the name of Jesus, I command you, Satan, to leave!" and started to hit the child on the back. During this process, Mr. Kim psychologically manipulated Lee and Min Ji-young, forcing them to participate in the ritual.

The group gradually became dependent on Mr. Kim, who justified the violence to control Lee and Min Ji-young. Lee began to act under Mr. Kim's instructions, and eventually, Mr. Kim started to beat her. After being tied to the bed and beaten for several hours, Lee died. The perpetrators forcibly covered the victim's mouth with towels and hangers to muffle her cries, and bruises from the beatings were found on her body. The cause of death was reported as asphyxiation due to severe chest compression.

On the day of the incident, the group sought help from a Korean pastor, but the pastor felt something was wrong and reported it to the police. The police discovered Lee's body along with Min Ji-young, who was severely injured from dehydration and hypothermia. Min Ji-young is believed to be another victim of the exorcism.

This case has sparked ongoing discussions about how the religious background will be addressed in the trial of the group charged with manslaughter in Germany. Legal experts in Germany have suggested that the incident may not have been carried out due to religious beliefs but rather as part of a plan to control and exploit the victim. Mr. Kim's psychological manipulation of the group and his use of their trust to justify the violence reveal a complex background, showing that the relationship between the victim and the perpetrators is increasingly entangled.

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