BUSAN - A 50-year-old homemaker who had gone missing for 50 days was found dead in a hiking sack near Nakdong River on Saturday and police are questioning the victim’s estranged husband, who is a college professor, in connection with the apparent murder.

According to Busan Bukbu Police, a group of environmentalists who were picking up garbage along Nakdong River on Saturday discovered a 1-meter-long (3.2-foot) black hiking sack on the riverside, with the woman’s body inside, about 2 p.m.

The woman’s body was tied up with metal chains, according to police. Police said the victim’s body was severely decomposed. After comparing fingerprints of the victim and the missing homemaker surnamed Park, they identified the victim.

Police launched a probe on April 5 after Park’s brother told investigators that his sister hadn’t returned home and he could not reach her since she left her home in Busan on April 2.

Police mobilized helicopters and searched Nakdong River and Geumjeong Mountain, but they failed to locate her.

Forensic doctors who examined Park’s body said it is likely that she was strangled because there were marks on her neck. An autopsy will be performed today.

Police said they will continue questioning the husband surnamed Kang and will seek a warrant to detain him. Kang, 52, has been flatly denying his involvement since he was arrested by investigators on Saturday.

Noting that Park’s cell phone was turned off at 12:33 a.m. on April 3 near her husband’s apartment in Mandeok-dong and Kang called someone two minutes before at 12:31 a.m. near Mandeok Tunnel, police suspect Kang met his wife before she went missing. Police said the couple married in March last year, but they lived separately six months later after the husband filed for divorce in January.


 By Kim Sang-jin, Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]