PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 55-year-old South Korean businessman was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest in a luxury pool villa near Pattaya, in what police treated as an apparent suicide.
Body found in high-end Nongprue pool villa
The incident occurred in a single-storey pool villa in a gated residential compound in Nongprue, Banglamung district, which police estimated to be worth around 25 million baht and noted was equipped with a private pool and high perimeter fencing. Officers found a white Lexus van and a bronze-grey Mercedes-Benz with auctioned license plates parked on the property.
Victim identified and weapon recovered
Inside the living room, responders discovered the lifeless body of Wonhoa Jung, also reported as Wonhwa Jeong, a 55-year-old South Korean national, lying on a sofa with a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest. Next to his right side was a loaded 9mm pistol, and investigators recovered a spent 9mm cartridge case from the carpet.
Notebook believed to be farewell message
On a nearby coffee table, officers located a notebook containing handwritten entries in Korean that were believed to be a farewell message addressed to family members and employees. Specialists from the Central Forensic Science Office Region 2 in Chonburi cordoned off the area and systematically collected evidence, while the on-duty doctor from Pattaya Patthama Kun Hospital conducted an initial examination of the body.
Employee’s account of discovery
An employee told authorities he normally arrived around 10:00 a.m. to drive his employer to work but had been unable to reach him that day. He initially assumed the businessman was resting and only returned in the afternoon, when he found him dead on the sofa and notified the police.
Business interests and private circle
According to initial information, the deceased was said to be the owner of a golf course in Chonburi province and to have operated several other companies. Staff and close associates who came to the scene declined to speak to the media.
Recent bereavement and suspected mental strain
Sources close to the investigation indicated the man had been under severe emotional strain over the past two months following the death of his new Korean wife. He had reportedly asked acquaintances about signs of depression, a detail that was still being verified by investigators.
Police focus on personal problems as motive
Police thoroughly documented the scene, collected evidence and sent the body for a full autopsy. Investigators said they were provisionally working on the assumption of a suicidal act linked to personal problems and were planning further interviews and detailed analysis of all traces to clarify the sequence of events, while his former wife was travelling from South Korea with their children.
“A successful entrepreneur, a luxury villa – and yet everything ends in a quiet tragedy. Cases like this are a reminder that personal crises often remain invisible.”
said The Pattaya News, local media.
“Should mental health be discussed more – especially for people under great pressure?”
said The Pattaya News, local media.