September 14, 2023
GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Five adults and one teenager have been arrested after a body was discovered in the trunk of a car outside a popular Korean spa in Gwinnett County late Tuesday night.
The suspects have been identified as 26-year-old Eric Hyun; 22-year-old Joonhyun Lee; 26-year-old Joonho Lee; 25-year-old Hyunji Lee; and 26-year-old Gawon Lee; and 15-year-old Junyeoug Lee. All suspects are facing charges for felony murder, imprisonment, tampering with evidence, and concealing a death, according to FOX5.
During a press conference, police stated the victim was a female from South Korea who flew to Atlanta to join a religious organization that calls itself “Soldiers of Christ.”
A sizable number of South Koreans in the United States and South Korea have been known to be “fanatic” Christians when compared to other Asian ethnic groups.
Authorities believe the South Korean woman was held captive and beaten repeatedly and starved. Her body weighed approximately 70 pounds when it was discovered. The Medical Examiner’s Office believes malnourishment may have been a contributing factor to her death.
The location where the victim was held captive has been described as a “house of horrors.”
Authorities received a 911 call around 10:50 p.m. on September 12 about suspicious activity near the Jeju Sauna on Gwinnett Place Drive. When police arrived, they discovered a body in the trunk of a silver Jaguar sedan.
Hyun is believed to have been the driver of the Jaguar. After he parked his vehicle, he called a family member to pick him up. The family member drove Hyun to a local hospital for unrelated injuries. While at the hospital, Hyun allegedly asked the family member to retrieve a personal item from the car. The family member called 911 upon discovering the body, reports FOX5.
The sauna posted the following statement on social media:
We would like to address a recent incident that occurred in our parking lot. We want to assure our valued customers that this incident had absolutely nothing to do with our business operations and was solely confined to the parking lot area.
The safety and well-being of our customers have always been our utmost priority. We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement authorities who are currently investigating the matter. We are confident that they will bring those responsible to justice swiftly.
We understand that incidents like these can cause concern among our loyal customers, and we want to emphasize that this was an isolated incident that does not reflect the overall safety and security of our premises. We are thankful for our security officers who patrol in and around our parking lot to provide a safe environment for all.
We encourage our customers to continue enjoying the wide range of services and amenities we offer, including our rejuvenating saunas, therapeutic baths, and cultural experiences. We remain committed to maintaining the high standards of cleanliness, hospitality, and relaxation that our customers have come to expect from us.
We would like to thank our valued customers for their continued support and trust in Jeju Sauna.
Police confirmed during a press conference that it does not appear there is any connection between the sauna and the homicide.
The victim has not been identified at this time because her next-of-kin have not been notified.
Feature Screenshot via WSB-TV YouTube