S. Korean gunned down in Mexico City

(ATTN: RECASTS dateline; UPDATES with more details throughout)
SEOUL/MEXICO CITY, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean national was shot dead by unknown assailants in downtown Mexico City, government and corporate sources said Saturday.
The foreign ministry said that the victim was a 36-year-old man who worked for the local branch office of Daewoo Electronics Corp.
It said Mexican police had witness testimonies saying that the deceased, identified only by his family name of Cho, was killed as he got out of his car in an upper-class residential area near his home after getting off work Thursday evening.
"Authorities said the unknown assailants followed Cho in another car before firing at least 13 shots of which six hit the man in the head, torso and legs," the ministry said.
It said South Korea's embassy in Mexico was notified by law enforcement authorities and sent a consulate official to the crime scene, and requested the speedy arrest of the perpetrators.
Local investigators said that no valuables were stolen, and since the dead man was specifically targeted by the assailants, it may have been more than simple murder.
Related to the shooting, head of Daewoo's branch office, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Cho had worked at the Mexico City office for seven years and was a conscientious employee.
The latest incident comes as the embassy intensified efforts to protect Koreans living in Mexico from the rise in violence.
The latest death comes eight months after two Koreans were shot while riding in the same taxi together.
There were 32 violent crimes committed against Koreans in Mexico last year, including two murders.
yonngong@yna.co.kr