Latest news with #Yoo
7NEWS
8 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Taekwondo instructor Kwang Kyung Yoo's phone call to wife after murdering student's mother
A taekwondo instructor who slaughtered an entire family and stole one of their cars rang his wife amid the killings to tell her he had obtained a BMW, court documents reveal. Kwang Kyung Yoo, 50, on Thursday pleaded guilty to the February 2024 murders of his seven-year-old student and the boy's parents, Min Cho, 41, and Steven Cho, 39. Yoo strangled the mother and son at his North Parramatta taekwondo studio before driving her BMW to the family's Baulkham Hills home, where he assaulted and stabbed her husband. Now, new revelations about the horrific slayings have been laid bare as a statement of agreed facts was tendered in Parramatta Local Court last week. While a clear motive for the killings wasn't outlined, the documents reveal Yoo was a serial liar who was obsessed with luxury items, wealth, and social status. According to the documents, the martial arts instructor — who was known as 'Master Lion' to his students – consistently told grandiose mistruths to friends, family, and students about his success, wealth, and academic and sporting credentials. In January 2024, just weeks before the murders, Yoo lied to his wife that he was being given a BMW — the same make as the Cho's car — as a work car from his secondary employer, a local school. He was also captured on CCTV driving into the housing complex where the family lived on five separate occasions in the 11 days leading up to the murders. According to the court documents, the tragic turn of events began when the seven-year-old boy arrived at Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy about 4.30pm on February 19 last year ahead of his regular Monday night classes. The boy, who had been attending the school for three years, was taking double classes with Yoo in preparation for his black belt. CCTV footage shows Min arriving at the studio about 6.22pm, after the other parents and students had left. While the boy waited in reception, Min followed Yoo through the classroom to the storeroom, where he strangled her, before dragging her body into the office. After the class with the boy finished just before 8pm, Yoo called his wife to tell her 'the car has arrived'. He then lured the seven-year-old boy into the storeroom and strangled him, according to the facts. At 8.48pm, Yoo drove Min's BMW x5 to the family's Baulkham Hills townhouse, where he broke in and waited for half an hour for Steven to arrive home, before stabbing him repeatedly in the head, neck, and torso with a knife and pair of scissors. The facts state Yoo suffered several stab wounds as Steven fought for his life. Yoo drove back to the studio and collected his phone and Min's apple watch about 11pm, according to the documents. He then called his wife and told her he had been stabbed and agreed to meet her at Westmead Hospital. At the hospital, Yoo was treated for a collapsed lung and told police he had been attacked by three people in North Parramatta Woolworths car park and he had driven himself there in his Toyota Camry. According to the facts, police spoke to Yoo's wife and learned he had told her he had been driving a friend's BMW, which led police to search that vehicle. The facts state police discovered blood inside the BMW, as well as documents for the sale of a multi-million dollar home in Mosman, a false master's degree from Sydney University in his name, and papers in the name of 'Professor Kwang Yoo'. Steven's body was discovered the next day when concerned friends went to the couple's home. They saw an object covered by a blanket and called police. Police then went to the martial arts studio, where they noticed blood on the front steps before finding the bodies of Min and her son inside. The documents reveal Yoo was a prolific liar, who told people that he had competed in the Olympics, that both his parents and wife had died from COVID-19, and that he owned a Lamborghini and a home with views of the Harbour Bridge. He also inspected properties and falsely told agents he was acting on behalf of his wealthy employer or his parents who had a budget of up to $50 million and also attended a car dealership to discuss purchasing a Lamborghini. He also told others, including his wife and sister, that he had achieved a PhD from Macquarie University and Sydney University, however, both institutions had no record of him. Yoo will be sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court later this year.
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Kwang Kyung Yoo: Sydney taekwondo instructor's shocking lies revealed after he pleads guilty to triple murder
WARNING: Confronting content A taekwondo instructor who confessed to a shocking triple murder in western Sydney had an obsession with luxury items and told grandiose lies in the lead-up to the killing of a couple and a seven-year-old boy, according to court documents. Kwang Kyung Yoo, 51, on Thursday pleaded guilty to murdering Min Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old child at his North Parramatta taekwondo studio as well as Ms Cho's husband, Steven Cho, 39, at his Baulkham Hills home on February 19 last year. A statement of agreed facts tendered to the Parramatta Local Court do not state Yoo's motivation for the horrific murders; however, they do reveal that in the lead-up, he lied to his wife that he was being given a BMW as a work car and instead took Ms Cho's BMW X5 after killing her. He was also obsessed with wealth and had told lies about his academic credentials and having competed at the Olympics. Yoo ran the Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy at North Parramatta and was known to his students as 'Master Lion'. According to court documents, in January last year, he lied to his wife when he told her that a primary school, where he had a part-time job, was giving him a BMW as a work car. In the 11 days leading up to the horrific murders, Yoo was captured on CCTV driving into the complex where the Yoo family lived in his grey Toyota Camry on five occasions The court was told that about 6.22pm on February 19, after the other parents and students had left his taekwondo studio, Yoo strangled Ms Cho in a storeroom before dragging her body into the office. Later that evening, he was captured on CCTV taking Ms Cho's car keys before he later called his wife to say his new BMW had arrived. 'The car has arrived,' he told her during a brief phone call. He then killed the seven-year-old boy in the storeroom by strangling him. At 8.48pm, he drove Ms Cho's BMW X5 away from the scene to her Baulkham Hills townhouse, where he broke in. At 9.18pm, Mr Cho returned home, where he was stabbed to death by Yoo with blows to the head, neck and chest. Mr Cho stabbed Yoo in self-defence but was killed in the altercation. Yoo returned to his studio and called his wife, saying: 'I've been stabbed with a knife.' He drove to Westmead Hospita,l where he was treated for a collapsed lung and multiple stab wounds. He claimed to police that he had been stabbed by three people in the car park of a North Parramatta Woolworths; however, officers quickly established that it was a lie after viewing CCTV footage. Police searched Ms Cho's BMW, which Yoo had driven to the hospital, and found traces of blood inside. Mr Cho's body was discovered the next day when friends became concerned and went to the couple's home. Police then went to the Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy, where they noticed blood on the front steps before the bodies of Ms Cho and the boy were found inside. 'During the investigation, police obtained evidence that suggested that the offender (Yoo) had interests in luxury items, social status and wealth,' the court documents state. Police found evidence of him inspecting properties and falsely telling agents that he was acting on behalf of his wealthy employer or his parents, who had a budget of up to $50m. He showed the mother of one of his students a picture that he falsely claimed was taken from his home with Harbour Bridge views. He had further lied about owning property in Sydney's eastern suburbs and luxury cars, and that he holidayed in New York and California. He also bizarrely told his wife that he was receiving emails from a wealthy woman in a high position, according to the court documents. Yoo also told people, including his wife and sister, that he had a master's degree and PHD from Macquarie University and Sydney University; however, both institutions had no record of him. He was also found to have lied about competing in taekwondo at the 2000 Olympics. Yoo will appear in the Supreme Court on April 1.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Obsessed triple murderer's shocking lies
WARNING: Confronting content A taekwondo instructor who confessed to a shocking triple murder in western Sydney had an obsession with luxury items and told grandiose lies in the lead-up to the killing of a couple and a seven-year-old boy, according to court documents. Kwang Kyung Yoo, 51, on Thursday pleaded guilty to murdering Min Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old child at his North Parramatta taekwondo studio as well as Ms Cho's husband, Steven Cho, 39, at his Baulkham Hills home on February 19 last year. A statement of agreed facts tendered to the Parramatta Local Court do not state Yoo's motivation for the horrific murders; however, they do reveal that in the lead-up he lied to his wife that he was being given a BMW as a work car and instead took Ms Cho's BMW X5 after killing her. Murderer Kwang Kyung Yoo. Supplied Credit: Supplied Yoo was obsessed with wealth. Facebook Credit: Supplied He was also obsessed with wealth and had told lies about his academic credentials and having competed at the Olympics. Yoo ran the Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy at North Parramatta and was known to his students as 'Master Lion'. According to court documents, in January last year, he lied to his wife when he told her that a primary school – where he had a part-time job – was giving him a BMW as a work car. In the 11 days leading up to the horrific murders, Yoo was captured on CCTV driving into the complex where the Yoo family lived in his grey Toyota Camry on five occasions The court was told that about 6.22pm on February 19, after the other parents and students had left his taekwondo studio, Yoo strangled Ms Cho in a storeroom before dragging her body into the office. Later that evening he was captured on CCTV taking Ms Cho's car keys before he later called his wife to say his new BMW had arrived. Min and Steven Cho were murdered by Yoo. Supplied Credit: Supplied The couple were killed on February 19 last year. Credit: Supplied 'The car has arrived,' he told her during a brief phone call. He then killed the seven-year-old boy in the storeroom by strangling him. At 8.48pm he drove Ms Cho's BMW X5 away from the scene to her Baulkham Hills townhouse where he broke in. At 9.18pm, Mr Cho returned home where he was stabbed to death by Yoo with blows to the head, neck and chest. Mr Cho stabbed Yoo in self-defence but was killed in the altercation. Yoo returned to his studio and called his wife, saying: 'I've been stabbed with a knife.' He drove to Westmead Hospital where he was treated for a collapsed lung and multiple stab wounds. He claimed to police that he had been stabbed by three people in the carpark of a North Parramatta Woolworths; however, officers quickly established that was a lie after viewing CCTV footage. Police searched Ms Cho's BMW, which Yoo had driven to hospital, and found traces of blood inside. Mr Cho's body was discovered the next day when friends became concerned and went to the couple's home. Police then went to the Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy where they noticed blood on the front steps before the bodies of Ms Cho and the boy were found inside. 'During the investigation, police obtained evidence that suggested that the offender (Yoo) had interests in luxury items, social status and wealth,' the court documents state. Police found evidence of him inspecting properties and falsely telling agents that he was acting on behalf of his wealthy employer or his parents who had a budget of up to $50m. Lion's Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy. NewsWire/Gaye Gerard. Credit: News Corp Australia The Baulkham Hills townhouse block where Mr Cho was murdered. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia He showed the mother of one of his students a picture that he falsely claimed was taken from his home with Harbour Bridge views. He had further lied about owning property in Sydney's eastern suburbs and luxury cars and that he holidayed in New York and California. He also bizarrely told his wife that he was receiving emails from a wealthy woman in a high position, according to the court documents. Yoo also told people, including his wife and sister, that he had a master's degree and PHD from Macquarie University and Sydney University; however, both institutions had no record of him. He was also found to have lied about competing in taekwondo at the 2000 Olympics. Yoo will appear in the Supreme Court on April 1.
West Australian
4 days ago
- West Australian
Taekwondo instructor admits to shocking triple murder
A taekwondo instructor has admitted to a shocking triple murder in Sydney's west in which he killed a couple and a seven-year-old child. Kwang Kyung Yoo on Thursday pleaded guilty to three counts of murder when he appeared in the Parramatta Local Court. He admitted to murdering Min Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old child at a North Parramatta taekwondo studio, as well as Ms Cho's husband, Steven Cho, 39, at a Baulkham Hills home on February 19 last year. The North Kellyville man has been in custody since he was arrested in hospital and will now face sentencing proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court. Ms Cho and the child were killed inside the taekwondo studio where the boy was a student. Yoo, who was known to his students as Master Lion, left the bodies inside the studio before driving Ms Cho's white BMW to her Baulkham Hills home, where Mr Cho was stabbed several times. NSW Police found Mr Cho's body at the Watkins Rd, Baulkham Hills address before the bodies of his wife and the child were discovered by police two hours later. Yoo drove to Westmead Hospital with stab wounds to his chest, arms and stomach and claimed he was randomly attacked in a Woolworths carpark. However he sustained the injuries while stabbing Mr Cho to death. He will now appear in the Supreme Court in August before he is sentenced at a later date.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Grisly details in triple murder emerge as ‘Master Lion' pleads guilty
Warning: Graphic content A taekwondo master has pleaded guilty to murdering a seven-year-old boy he taught at his studio and a married couple in a brutal triple murder in Sydney's west. Kyung Kwang Yoo, known to students at his dojang as 'Master Lion', first murdered Min Kyung 'Sue' Cho, 41, at Lion's Taekwondo Martial Arts Academy in North Parramatta on the evening of February 19 last year, while the boy waited in reception. He then collected the young student and murdered him, before driving to the woman's Baulkham Hills home and killing her husband, Hyun Soo 'Steven' Cho, 39. Yoo pleaded guilty to three counts of murder at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday morning via video link and will be sentenced later this year. A clear motive for the killings wasn't outlined in the agreed facts obtained following Yoo's pleas. Police identified Yoo as a serial liar who told friends, family and students a series of bizarre mistruths about his income, education and family deaths. Weeks before the murders, he told his wife he would be receiving a BMW – the same make as the Chos' car – from his secondary employer, a local high school. Police noted Yoo had an 'obsession' with luxury items, social status and wealth. Court documents show that, on February 19, about 4.30pm, the boy arrived at the academy for his regular Monday night classes. He had been attending the martial arts academy for three years and was taking double classes with Yoo in preparation for his black belt assessment. Sue Cho entered the academy about 6.20pm and was captured chatting with Yoo on CCTV, before following him through the classroom and into the storeroom where he strangled her.
