Memories of Murder (Hangul: 살인의 추억; RR: Salinui chueok) is a 2003 South Korean crime-drama film co-written and directed by Bong Joon-ho. It is based on the true story of Korea’s first serial murders in history, which took place between 1986 and 1991 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
On 18 September 2019, police announced that Lee Choon Jae had been identified as a suspect in the serial murders. He was identified after DNA from the underwear of one of the victims was matched with his, and subsequent DNA testing linked him to four of the other unsolved serial murders. At the time, he was identified he was already serving a life sentence at a prison in Busan for the rape and murder of his sister-in-law. Lee initially denied any involvement in the serial murders, but on 2 October 2019, police announced that Lee had confessed to killing 15 people, including all 10 victims in the serial murders, which includes a case previously considered to be a copycat crime, and 5 others. In addition to the murders, he also confessed to more than 30 rapes and attempted rapes.
On 15 November 2019, police announced that they had reached a provisional conclusion that Lee was responsible for all 10 serial murders.
Yoon Sang-Yeo, who was convicted of killing the eighth victim and spent 20 years in prison until he was released on parole in 2009, filed for a re-trial of his case on 13 November 2019 following news reports that Lee had confessed to all 10 serial murders. Two days later, police announced that they had reached a provisional conclusion that Lee was responsible for the murder for which Yoon was convicted. Police said Lee’s confession in the eighth murder ‘elaborately and coherently’ described both the scene and the victim. This raised concerns that police had charged an innocent man.