Young-chul Yoo was born on April 18, 1970, in South Korea. Raised in a lower-class family, Yoo experienced a troubled childhood marked by poverty and neglect. He displayed early signs of deviant behavior, such as stealing and acts of violence, which would foreshadow the dark path he would later take.
Yoo's criminal record began at a young age, with over 14 convictions for various crimes including theft, forgery, and trading in child pornography. Despite serving a total of 7 years in Korean prisons, Yoo was released on multiple occasions, never truly rehabilitated from his criminal tendencies.
In 1992, Yoo married and had a son in 1994. However, the marriage ended in a divorce in 2000 following Yoo's imprisonment for rape and abuse. His family life was marked by turmoil and instability, mirroring his violent tendencies.
Between September 2003 and July 2004, Yoo embarked on a brutal crime spree that terrorized South Korea. He targeted affluent citizens and women involved in the sex trade, burning and mutilating the majority of his 19 known victims.
Yoo's modus operandi involved heinous acts of violence, including cannibalism and bludgeoning his victims to death with a hammer. His brutal methods shocked the nation and sent fear through the community.
Yoo's reign of terror came to an end on July 15, 2004, when he was finally apprehended by authorities. He was convicted of multiple counts of murder and sentenced to imprisonment in the Seoul Detention Center. The media dubbed him the "Raincoat Killer" due to his distinctive yellow raincoat worn during his arrest.
In 2021, Yoo's story was the subject of a Netflix documentary titled "The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea." The documentary explores Yoo's crimes and the impact they had on the nation. There is speculation that the death penalty may be abolished before Yoo's execution, as South Korea has not carried out a death sentence since 1997.
Yoo's case has drawn comparisons to American serial killers, such as Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., who evaded capture by law enforcement through strategic methods. Yoo exploited the flaws in the Korean police system, which lacked communication and collaboration between divisions, allowing him to evade capture for as long as he did.
Young-chul Yoo's story is a chilling reminder of the darkness that can reside in the human soul. His crimes shocked a nation and left a lasting impact on the criminal justice system in South Korea. Despite his incarceration, his legacy continues to haunt those who were touched by his reign of terror.