Serial Rapist Arrested in Gongju

Police in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, arrested yesterday an unemployed middle-aged man, identified only as Kim, on the charge of raping and killing a coffee shop waitress.

Kim, 53, is accused of using date rape drugs dissolved in the waitress’s drink Jan. 23 at a bar in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. He allegedly raped her in his sedan and left her unconscious on a mountain in Cheongcheon-myeon, Goesan County.

Kim is also known to have drugged and attempted to rape a 38-year-old transvestite at the parking lot of a sauna in Gongju Jan. 26. Realizing that his victim was a man, the suspect took 500,000 won (360 U.S. dollars) of the drag queen`s money and dumped him unconscious on a nearby mountain.

The transvestite was rescued by residents who discovered and took him to the hospital.

Police are expanding their investigation in the belief that Kim raped and robbed seven more coffee waitresses since his release from prison in November 2007.

Kim has 16 prior convictions.

According to the probe, Kim pretended to have considerable wealth at coffee shops and drove the luxury sedan Grandeur.