Asian Gang Unit Arrests Suspect

Los Angeles: Detectives from the Asian Gang Unit announced the arrest of a murder suspect.

On June 12, 2008, Victim Min-Woo Cho, a 24-year-old male Korean National, was reported missing by his family members in Wilshire Area.

In the beginning, this case appeared to be a typical missing person investigation.  There was no evidence of wrongdoing or foul play noted.  The victim had simply vanished.  About a month after Cho’s disappearance, an unidentified deceased body was discovered in Northeast Division.  Based on the limited circumstances known to the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, the cause of death of the decedent remained undetermined.  The detectives diligently and thoroughly investigated the two cases.  Using DNA evidence, the detectives were able to connect the cases and positively identified the decedent as Min-Woo Cho.  Over the course of the investigation, the detectives were able to gather additional evidence, which was used to implicate the suspect in the murder of Min-Woo Cho. 

On October 15, 2008, in the City of Gardena, the suspect, Steven Hyun Kwon, 24, was arrested and booked for the murder of Mr. Cho.  

As a result of the detective’s dedication and diligence, a sense of closure could be brought to the victim’s family.

Kwon’s bail has been set at two million dollars.

The motive for the murder remains unclear.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detectives Ken Yeung and Alan Solomon, Gang & Operations Support Division at 213-847-1620. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. All tips may remain anonymous.