Man identified as 31-year-old Zheng Changsheng

This composite photo, released by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, shows mug shots of Zheng Changsheng. (Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency)
This composite photo, released by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, shows mug shots of Zheng Changsheng. (Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency)

South Korean police on Tuesday revealed the identity of a Chinese lecturer accused of killing and dismembering a female Chinese graduate student who had taken his class.

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency disclosed the suspect’s name, age and photos on its website, identifying him as Zheng Changsheng, 31. The information will remain public until Oct. 1.

Before releasing his legal name, police previously identified the man only by the Korean spelling of his name, which in English is Jeong.

The disclosure came a day after a review committee met Monday to determine whether the suspect’s identity should be made public.

This image from surveillance footage provided by a reader shows the man accused of killing a Chinese female graduate student leaving his home in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, dressed in women's clothing on Aug. 20. (Yonhap)
This image from surveillance footage provided by a reader shows the man accused of killing a Chinese female graduate student leaving his home in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, dressed in women's clothing on Aug. 20. (Yonhap)

“The crime was particularly brutal and caused grave harm, and there is sufficient evidence to support the allegations,” the committee said. “The committee decided to disclose the suspect’s identity in consideration of the public interest, including the need to prevent similar crimes.”

Zheng is accused of killing a 25-year-old Chinese woman at his studio apartment in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, on Aug. 20. He later allegedly mutilated her body and abandoned the parts in multiple places, including Gyeongju and Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul.

Zheng was arrested on Aug. 25 and has been booked on five charges: murder, mutilating, abandoning and concealing a corpse and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

The man accused of killing a Chinese international student in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, leaves the Daegu District Court on Thursday following a hearing on his arrest warrant. (Yonhap)
The man accused of killing a Chinese international student in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, leaves the Daegu District Court on Thursday following a hearing on his arrest warrant. (Yonhap)

Officials believe Zheng filed a false missing-person report after the killing in an attempt to throw investigators off his trail. He is also accused of disguising himself as a woman, traveling to Dongdaegu Station and turning off the victim's phone to prevent police from tracing her movements.

Police plan to refer Zheng to prosecutors by Friday.


junheee@heraldcorp.com