A South Korean missionary was found dead on Monday in Kazakhstan, Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday.
Kim Jin-hee, 34, who worked as a missionary in Karaganda, central Kazakhstan, was struck with a blunt instrument. There are two murder suspects.
It is the first time that a Korean national has been killed in the central Asian country since South Korea established diplomatic ties in Janurary 1992.
The incident raises concerns over security as President Roh Moo-hyun is scheduled to visit the nation next Monday, embarrassing the Kazakhstan government at it prepares for the summit talks.
Karaganda police immediately began an investigation into the case in which the two suspects apparently took away $1,000 in cash, a VCR, a camera and other items from Kim’s house.
The police appear to believe the murder occurred during an attempt to steal Kim’s belongings rather than as the result of any personal grudge, officials at South Korean Embassy in Kazakhstan said.
They flatly denied speculation that the murder may be related to terrorism aimed at Koreans.
When Kim’s husband, identified only by his last name Hahn, came home Monday, he first found her dead with the two suspects beside her. Hahn was also injured in a struggle, after which the two ran away.
The Korean couple went to Kazakhstan in 1997 to serve as missionaries.
A funeral service will be held on Friday.
Karaganda is located in the middle of Kazakhstan, 200 kilometers south of its capital Astana and 1,000 kilometers from Almaty, where most Koreans in Kazakhstan reside.