University researcher 'unlawfully killed' - coroner

The couple lived at an address in Countess Way, Broughton, Milton Keynes

A university researcher found dead at his home - whose wife took her life after being accused of his murder - was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.

Dr Minguk Seo, 32, who worked at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, was found dead at his home in Countess Way, Broughton, Milton Keynes on 25 January 2022.

His wife, Byoung Ju Jeon, was under police investigation when she took her life on May 3 2022.

After the inquest into Dr Seo's death, Thames Valley Police said had Ms Ju Jeon still been alive, it would have sought to charge her with her husband's murder.

Controlling behaviour

Sean Cummings, the assistant coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, concluded Dr Seo had been "unlawfully killed " at a hearing in Milton Keynes.

Afterwards, Det Ch Insp Nicola Underhill said Dr Seo had been "a victim of years of coercive and controlling behaviour, as well as physical and mental abuse".

She said: “This case highlights that men can be victims of domestic abuse, and I would encourage anybody who feels that they are suffering, to not stay silent, but to report this to the police."

At an earlier inquest into the death of Ms Ju Jeon, on 14 September 2022, a coroner ruled her death was suicide.