South Korean Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon issued the decree on Monday to extradite the woman to New Zealand, the ministry said in a statement. Han had the final decision on whether to send her to New Zealand after the Seoul High Court on Friday approved her extradition, saying the woman had agreed in writing to be sent back to New Zealand. The remains of the two young children, aged around five to 10, were hidden in suitcases for several years before an Auckland family unsuspectingly bought the luggage at a warehouse’s online auction. They took their purchases home before making the discovery and contacting the police. In mid-September, South Korean authorities arrested the woman on a warrant for two counts of murder. In the weeks since, New Zealand’s extradition request has been reviewed by South Korean courts and the justice minister. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed the decision on Tuesday morning. “One of the purposes of these extradition agreements is to be able to smooth the way for what would otherwise be very complicated situations,” she told Newshub. “It’s a tragic set of circumstances under which this version is being used, but it’s all about making sure our justice system can function as we would expect it to.” In New Zealand, the children’s identities and other family details remain unknown. The coroner’s record released on Monday said the woman may appear in the Manukau District Court “shortly”, but did not give an expected date. In addition to ordering the extradition, Khan had ordered officials to hand over evidence gathered during the woman’s arrest to New Zealand authorities, the ministry said. The Ministry of Justice and prosecutors in Seoul will consult New Zealand authorities on the exact timing of the extradition within the next 30 days, it said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
