Local police in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, said that Kim Jae-hak was killed at the Park house. Police caught the suspect, a man in his 20s identified as Kang, 500 meters from the house at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday.

The man who reported the murder to police said he discovered Kim's naked body and the suspect when he entered the house to see it with his wife.

A police officer said Kang killed Kim with a hoe after removing the victim's clothes and binding his hands and feet. The murder was captured by a surveillance camera installed in the house.

Kang told police that he killed Kim because he was enraged after Kim approached him and demanded that he leave the house.

Kang's employer told police that the suspect had been acting strangely on the day before the murder. Police are trying to find out if Kang is mentally ill.

The 81-year-old victim was born in the same village as the former president. He had served as the head of the house preservation organization since 1987, after retiring as principal of an elementary school in Gumi.

(englishnews@chosun.com )