Curiosity

R H I A N N E L I Z A D E S

A TRUE STORY
 Based on Jung Yoo-Jung case

Curiosity
Have you ever thought of doing something new?

Something exciting, fun, thrilling.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

Life is boring

We should explore more

All the possibilities and questions that we have

Sometimes don’t you just want to know?

“Curiosity is both a choice and a practice."
Aren’t you curious? — Steve Jobs

PROLOGUE
I'm sat in my car, slouched on my hard leather seat which now cradled me with
unexpected comfort. It was a long day of countless pickups and trips across
town, picking up customers to and from, and now finally I'm at peace.
While I embraced the cold winter breeze blowing through my windows and the
sound of wind weaving through the seemingly quiet night of South Korea, I
glanced at my watch to see that it was now 2:58 AM.
[No one in their right mind is out at this hour]
I thought, on the brink of drifting into sleep from sheer exhaustion. I sank into
my seat practically dozing off as I glanced one more time in my rearview mirror.
There I noticed a young girl, her suitcase in tow, standing a few feet away across
the sidewalk.
[...I guess one last drive wouldn't hurt]
I reasoned, straightening up in my seat as I steered towards her direction. As I
opened the trunk, her suitcase appeared heavier up close. She struggled to lift it,
emitting soft grunts of effort. Sensing her struggle, I stood up and offered
assistance.
"No, no, it's fine. Thank you,"
She replied, continuing to wrestle with the weight.
"Ma'am, you seem to be having trouble. Please, allow me to help,"
I insisted, but she politely refused once more.
After her continued effort, she finally got the suitcase in, closed the trunk, and
slid into the backseat. I started the engine and I stared at her for a moment before
asking for her destination.
"Nakdong River please,"
She says in such a childish and playful tone.
While on the way, my gaze keeps returning to the peculiar young girl, seemingly
out of place. And I ponder what would such a young girl be doing this late at
night in the park.
[Going out at this hour?]
[Isn't she going on a vacation?]
These questions filled my mind as I tightly gripped the steering wheel and
listened to her guide me to where I should stop. She directs me to drop her off at
the park's edge, near the open field, and once again tows her heavy suitcase out
of the trunk by herself. We bid our farewells, and I watch with a hint of curiosity
as she practically skips into the park, heading toward the grassy fields.
[What an unusual girl,]
I muse to myself.
[Could she be in middle school?]
[She seems to be too young to be out alone at this hour.]
[Where could she possibly be going with a suitcase in the park?]
I ponder, finally calming down and deciding to take a smoke break.
[She'll probably need a ride back]
I realize, so I remain at the same spot, waiting patiently.
About 20 minutes pass by and there she is again. But something is noticeably
different. She now walks steadily with her very light suitcase??.
[Huh, wasn't that suitcase so heavy that she was practically dragging it?]
 I watched as the suitcase was almost flying from how light it had become, I
stood almost like a pole while being so confused by the bizarre things that were
happening, and her inching closer as she headed towards my direction. She Nakdong River
passes by me, opens the trunk, and effortlessly places her suitcase inside, lifting
it as if it were a mere piece of paper, a stark contrast to the struggle from earlier.
We both settle into the car, and she directs me to drive to the back. Throughout
the ride, I kept glancing at her contemplating the strangeness of the situation. It
was yet another quiet drive, almost as if she didn't even notice that it was the
same ride that she had taken.

[Something is not right.]

[Why head to the park at this hour?]

[The suitcase being suddenly lighter?]

[I mean nobody just throws away their clothes in the fields].

Thoughts after thoughts flooded my mind as I sat with my gut feeling that there
was definitely something bad going on.

After that awkward and tense drive, I finally dropped her off and then promptly
reported the bizarre incidents to the police. It was more of the unsettling, chilling
sensation than actual concern that prompted me to make the report. The police
scoured the area and discovered that the "young girl" was transporting a
victim's dismembered body, from the victim's apartment to that very park.

I had unknowingly transported dismembered human remains in the trunk of my

car.

And sat with a killer, twice.

 generous offer and kind services but I decided to decline since she lives
too far from me.
CHAPTER 1
The Daughter

"I know I'm going to regret this"

In South Korea, tutors are one of the most prized and important assets for
a child to be more focused, get engaged more, and learn better. I mean it
is a typical Asian concept wherein children are expected to get
overflowing good grades and achieve a high status in the academic fields.
Mothers are extremely picky when choosing tutors for their perfect
children whom they always expect to be as smart as Einstein. But despite
it being a difficult job, I liked it.
As a young woman in her early 20s, living alone in an apartment, I had no
other option but to take on the responsibility of paying the rent. Yet, I was
also a student at a prestigious university, balancing academic pursuits
with the demands of this unexpected role.
[I mean I like kids and I think I can handle some side jobs to earn
extra cash.]
I let out a sign of guilt as she honestly seemed like a genuinely nice
customer,
[I guess it just wasn't for me]
I think. But then she messages again, offering to drop her daughter at my
apartment.
"Woah! Is she serious?"
The mother continued to persuade me, assuring me that her daughter was
diligent, telling me how grateful she would be and even offering me gifts
if I accepted. I honestly felt bad for the poor mother so I decided to give
in.

I told myself while signing up for one of the most famous tutoring apps I [Her daughter might have an upcoming exam and had a dire need
found. I eagerly typed in all my information, school, grades, to study English.]
achievements, credentials, and so much more that it honestly felt like I
was being interviewed. I applied as an English tutor, knowing full well of I thought
the high payment I'd receive. In a matter of days, many parents consulted
for my time and offered for my time. [I mean the mother sounded so desperate and kind].

Including this one particular mother of a middle schooler who seemed And so I accepted the job and a few days later had a schedule to tutor her
very adamant about hiring me. She offered a high price for me and was daughter.
almost trying to win me over. I was extremely grateful and happy with her

May 26
As I prepared my apartment for the arrival of the child I would be
tutoring, each task felt like a small act of anticipation and preparation. I
dusted off the shelves, carefully arranging books and educational
materials, imagining the young mind that would soon be absorbing their
contents. The sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the
space and infusing it with a sense of warmth and welcome. As I cleaned
and organized, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and
responsibility, knowing that I was creating a space where learning occurs.
"Phew,"
I sighed, a blend of excitement and exhaustion washing over me. I had
been eagerly preparing for this day to arrive, and now, as I sat waiting, I
was filled with a sense of joy and anticipation for my first tutoring session
to begin.
*Knock*
"She's here!"
I exclaimed, my voice tinged with nervous anticipation. Taking a moment
to steady my nerves, I took a deep breath and went to the door, mentally
preparing myself. With a shaky hand, I reached for the handle and
welcomed a charming little girl. As she stood there, she seemed to defy
my expectations.
With her cute bob haircut adorned with bows, her glasses framing her
chubby, round face, and her uniform of a typical private school, she
appeared like any other middle schooler. Yet despite her seemingly
innocent appearance, there was a strange energy emanating from her.
"Hello, welcome! I'll be your English tutor."
I greeted her, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling I felt. As I welcomed her
in she kept looking around my apartment, I couldn't tell if she was maybe
admiring my place or if she was looking for something. As I welcomed
her in, she glanced around with a curious expression, her eyes lingering
on each corner as if searching for something.
"Alright, would you like to settle in before we start-?"
My words caught in my throat.
I was frozen.
My voice trembled
My whole body shivering
I was completely held aback
I looked behind me to find the daughter, holding a knife, its blade piercing
my chest.
Blood streamed down as I slowly comprehended the situation
She had stabbed me.
And as I lost consciousness, she continued to plunge the knife into me
again and again.
 CHAPTER 2
Sick

“The Daughter” walking to the victim’s apartment

I read the report of Jung Yoo-Jung. A 23-year-old woman who stabbed,
dismembered, and threw a victim's body out of "Curiosity".

[Who in their right mind would do this..]

The thought of being this deranged to stab an innocent young woman over
100 times just for the sake of fun and "learning" just makes me sick.

We caught this woman in the victim's apartment lying in the living room
as though it was hers. When we entered, she looked so unbothered, she
was just there, looking at the officers

"It was like she did nothing wrong"

Initially, she lied to the interrogator. She insisted that the body parts were
those of her baby.

"I was pregnant and I obviously didn't want it because I was young
and wasn't ready to take on the responsibility of a mom"

[How stupid]
Did she really think she could get away with that? She said that without
even stuttering. You can hear in her voice the confidence that she had.
She really thought that was believable. Since the police couldn't identify
the body, they examined the perimeters of the area and found the victim's
ID.
"That's not your baby"
"We know it's not your baby"
"Tell us the truth"
She continued to deny it, then abruptly complained of stomach pain.
[ugh]
She had the audacity to act like she was in pain, and since the police had
her in custody, they still had to rush her to the hospital.
And surprise surprise. She was alright.
[Ah for goodness sake]
In the end, her phone was confiscated, she was definitely not an honest
person so we had to search through her history. She had no contacts, no
messages, and it seemed like she had no friends or family. All she had on
her phone was her colorful history.
She had searches on how to hide a corpse, a bunch of true crime
documentaries, and the app that she used to lure her victim.
She was caught.
"Everyone knows that you killed ****"
She confessed to everything
Do you know what's even worse?
She sounded so proud.
She looked at me dead into my eyes and told me
"I just wanted to know how it feels to kill you know?"
What??
She explained in great detail about every single thing that she had done in
the process of killing the victim. Her plans, motives, and her obsession
with true crime stories.
Turns out, this girl is a fanatic for those thriller types of narratives.
She had searched how to dismember a body, bought knives, bleaches, and
bags, and Intricately cut through the parts of the victim
She seemed to know what she was doing as everything seemed to be
planned. The place where she disposed of the body was most likely
planned as well. The grassy fields by the river help decompose the
corpse's body from the insects and disinfectants which accelerates the
body's decomposition rate.
[Seems like this sick girl isn't as stupid as I thought]
She was sent to trial, deemed guilty and the Busan District Court
sentenced Jung Yoo-jung to a lifetime in prison she was convicted of “Curiosity killed the cat."
murder, desecration, and abandonment of a corpse, and was sentenced to — Helter Skelter
life in prison in November 2023. She is required to wear a location-
tracking device for the next 30 years and is being carefully watched just in
case she makes a move in prison.

END ~
LITERARY ANALYSIS
Title:
Jung Yoo-Jung being arrested
Curiosity

Setting:
South Korea,

Characters
Protagonist:
none

Antagonist:
Jung Yoo-Jung

– A young woman who has a fascination with true crime stories.

Plot:
A taxi driver picks up a strange young girl and reports her to the police because of an eerie feeling
that he felt. The Police then investigated the park wherein the girl went to, and found dismembered
human remains. The second chapter goes to the perspective of the victim. A college student living
alone, in need of money. She took on a tutoring job through an online app and got hired by a
“mother”. The daughter arrives at her apartment and brutally kills the victim, stabbing her over 100
times. The third chapter is on a police officer’s perspective. They found the “young girl”, who was
actually a 23-year-old woman named Jung Yoo-Jung. They arrested her wherein she was then
interrogated about her motives. She confessed that she was just curious and wanted to know how it
felt to murder. She was then arrested and taken to court where she was sentenced to a lifetime in
prison.

Conflict:
On the 6th of May, the day that the victim was supposed to tutor a child. She was brutally murdered
and stabbed by the “curious” murdered Jung Yoo-Jung.

Point of View:
The point of view of the story is in the 1st person perspective of different characters throughout the
chapters.

Theme:
True crime, murder, strange events, and police investigations about the case of Jung Yoo-Jung.