A Taekwondo instructor, Kwang Kyung Yoo, is under arrest and facing murder charges after fatally assaulting a seven-year-old pupil and his parents, according to police reports in Sydney, Australia. Yoo, who owns the Lion’s Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy, was reportedly found at a local hospital with his own stab wounds.
Police records indicate that Yoo allegedly murdered 41-year-old Min Cho and her young son at the martial arts academy after a class on Monday, February 19, 2024. After the crime, he drove the victim’s white BMW to their residence, where he is accused of stabbing Steven Cho, the woman’s 39-year-old estranged husband, to death.
The preliminary investigation reveals that the mother and son were strangled. Subsequently, Yoo reported to a hospital for treatment of stab and slash injuries, alleging an attack in a supermarket parking lot. Yoo was arrested at the hospital following the discovery of the Cho family’s bodies. He was informed of his arrest and the pending charges after undergoing surgery for his injuries. The authorities are still investigating the motives behind these crimes and the origins of Yoo’s injuries. Yoo, also known as Master Lion to his students, is expected to be charged with three counts of murder.
Parents at the academy expressed disbelief over the incident, noting Yoo’s calm demeanor just hours before the alleged murders. One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted how Yoo awarded her child a green belt and a certificate on the day of the incident.
“Master Lion congratulated my child and stressed the importance of regular class attendance,” she stated. Her child had been attending classes at Yoo’s academy three times a week for over a year. She further noted Yoo’s consistent positive influence on the children, often escorting students from a nearby school to the studio and organizing programs during school holidays. “Over the holidays, he would arrange activities from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The kids would participate in various games, including Nerf gun fights. It was a great way for them to expend energy,” she added.
Investigators are exploring any potential connections between Yoo and the Cho family, who all hail from South Korea. The Sydney police, led by Homicide Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty, are trying to uncover any additional relationships or motives. Should Yoo be found guilty, he could face life imprisonment, as murder in New South Wales carries a maximum life sentence. The murder of a child has a standard non-parole period of 25 years.
The police are appealing to the public for any information that could help in unraveling the sequence of events leading to the murders, in their pursuit of justice in this tragic case.
