Although the Korean phrase 목을 매 숨진 채 is somewhat ambiguous as to the precise method of death, I hope the police are investigating with an eye towards serial murder rather than suicide.

Police are investigating after three sex workers, all acquantainces, committed suicide in a short period of time in Pohang. According to the Pohang Nambu Police Station on July 11, at approximately 12.30pm on July 10 23-year-old Ms. Mun was found in her apartment, asphyxiated with a scarf. She was discovered by an employee of the bar “A” where she worked.

At approximately 5.30am on July 7 32-year-old Ms. Lee, also a co-worker of Ms. Mun, was found asphyxiated with a cloth in Sangdo-dong. And at approximately 8pm on July 8 36-year-old Ms. Kim, who worked at bar “B”, was found in her Daedo-dong home asphyxiated with the cord of her cellphone charger. Police said Ms. Kim and Ms. Lee owed money to loansharks, and Ms. Mun left behind a note saying she was greatly pained by the death of her co-worker Ms. Lee.

I think it’s an understatement to say it’s hard to imagine hanging or strangling yourself with a cellphone charger, let alone a scarf.