Ex-Member of Hip-Hop Group Arrested in Slaying

A former member of a popular South Korean hip-hop group was arrested Tuesday in connection with the slaying of a man who was shot to death in his backyard, authorities said.

Steve Sangwook Kim, 25, of Los Angeles, accompanied by his attorney, surrendered to police and was being held on $1-million bail, Los Angeles Police Department Lt. David Gabriel said. Arraignment was expected on Thursday.

Police allege that Kim shot and killed 31-year-old Man Nguyen of Burbank on Saturday in Nguyen’s backyard.

The Korea Times and other local Korean media identified Kim as a former member of Uptown, a hip-hop group that was popular in South Korea in the late 1990s.

Media in Korea reported that Kim was arrested in 2001 on charges of taking drugs such as Ecstasy, and was later deported to the United States.

Gabriel said investigators determined only that Kim had once lived in Korea and that “there was an association with a musical group” at that time. He had no additional details.

Kim was acquainted with Nguyen, Gabriel said.

Kim’s parents -- Richard Kim, 66, and Lois Kim, 57 -- were arrested the night of the shooting on suspicion of being accessories to murder after the fact, Gabriel said.

The Kims, of Los Angeles, were released Tuesday. No charges have been filed against them.