Suspect in murder of Korean tourist found in plastic barrel extradited to Korea

A suspect accused of murdering a Korean tourist in Thailand was extradited from Cambodia to Korea on Wednesday, the National Police Agency said. The suspect, aged 27, arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 7:40 a.m. on the same day.

Two police officers escort a suspect who was extradited from Cambodia to Korea at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday morning. [THE NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY]

A suspect accused of murdering a Korean tourist in Thailand was extradited from Cambodia to Korea on Wednesday, the National Police Agency said.

The suspect, aged 27, arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 7:40 a.m. on the same day.

He was accused of kidnapping and murdering a 34-year-old Korean man and disposing of the victim’s body in a cement-filled plastic barrel in a reservoir in Pattaya, Thailand, with two other accomplices on May 3. He then fled to Cambodia on May 9.

His extradition came 58 days after his arrest in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 14.

Police said cooperation with Thai and Cambodian police authorities and communication through diplomatic channels helped the extradition.

Another 26-year-old accomplice has been undergoing a criminal trial after being arrested in North Jeolla on May 13.

Authorities believe the remaining 39-year-old suspect fled to a country near Thailand and plan to arrest him through cooperation with local police.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]