KOREAN COPS

While I was living in South Korea, the local cops had a very bad reputation among the expat community. I  blamed this on language differences and xenophobia as much as I did on police incompetence.

I was probably underestimating police incompetence.
 

Serial killer was caught by masseuses, not the police

Massage parlor employees, not police professionals, caught serial murder suspect Yoo Yeong-cheol, police acknowledged yesterday.

Mr. Yoo, who is believed to have killed at least 20 persons including 11 masseuses, was arrested last Thursday after he called a massage parlor worker - perhaps planning another murder.
It had been reported he was arrested by police after an owner of a massage parlor reported suspicions after a number of his employees had gone missing after they received phone calls from the same number.

But according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the unit handling the case, it was the owner of the massage parlor and other employees who apprehended Mr. Yoo first. The police, after the owner's report, sent only one officer to the massage parlor. That officer then accompanied the owner and other employees to where Mr. Yoo was supposed to meet the masseuse. But the officer left, saying he believed Mr. Yoo was elsewhere.

After the officer left, Mr. Yoo appeared at the site and was captured by massage parlor employees after a scuffle. Another police officer patrolling nearby arrived and handcuffed Mr. Yoo. The officer who had left returned to the scene after Mr. Yoo was caught. An agency official said yesterday, "It's true that the massage parlor people caught Mr. Yoo first. But isn't it also true that we sent our man?"