South Korean missionary beaten to death in Philippine home

MANILA, Philippines – A South Korean missionary was beaten to death in his home in a shocking attack southeast of the Philippine capital, police said on Sunday, May 22.

Sim Jae-jok had returned from an early morning jog when he discovered an intruder in his kitchen in the town of Taytay on Friday, said Superintendent Samuel Delorino.

The intruder knocked the 57-year-old Korean down with a shovel then battered him with a cooking gas canister before fleeing, said Delorino.

Neighbors who witnessed the attack called for help and rushed Sim to the hospital but he was dead on arrival, the police officer said.

Robbery is believed to be the motive of the crime as the Korean’s laptop and wallet were missing.

The missionary, believed to be a Jehovah’s Witness, had been living in a neighborhood bordering a slum area for about a decade and had no enemies, Delorino said.

“He was robbed before. This was the 2nd or 3rd time but he forgave them before,” the policeman told Agence France-Presse.

His home doubled as his church, with the second floor used for services. “People could just go in and out of the house at all times,” said Delorino.

The assailant wore a hood but police believe they have identified a suspect.

South Korean embassy spokesmen could not be contacted for comment.

There are more 88,000 South Koreans who have moved to the Philippines, attracted by the widespread use of English, the warm weather and low costs.

But some have been targeted by crime with at least 11 South Koreans murdered in the Philippines last year, authorities said. – Rappler.com