[Report] Visiting 'Ichunjae's Hometown'... "Living in Prison with Taxes, Execute Ichunjae Immediately" [Han Seung-gon's Case Notebook]

"Cannot empathize with victims of Lee Chun-jae... Psychopathic tendencies"
"Sadistic crimes committed to relieve frustration"
Residents met around Hwaseong unanimously say, "Execute Lee Chun-jae immediately"
Some also say Lee Chun-jae's family should come forward to apologize and compensate

On the afternoon of the 2nd, in Jinan-ri (currently Jinan-dong), Taean-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. This area is the hometown of Lee Chun-jae, and local residents met on this day expressed anger over his crimes and called for the death penalty. The photo is unrelated to the Lee Chun-jae serial murder case. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Hwaseong=Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Lee Chun-jae should be executed immediately! He killed so many people..."

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Kim, a man in his 70s, whom we met in front of an apartment complex in Jinan-ri, Taean-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (currently Jinan-dong), responded this way when asked, "What do you think about the punishment level for Lee Chun-jae (57), who committed 14 murders and 9 rapes?"

This apartment complex was where Lee Chun-jae's mother lived, making the residents' reactions even more sensitive. Especially since some of his relatives still live across the street near OOO Park, if Lee Chun-jae's crimes had not been revealed while he was serving as a first-class model prisoner at Busan Prison, he might have been released and started the rest of his life here, his hometown and place of origin.

Moreover, if he had not been reformed after committing such brutal crimes, he might have committed another crime here near Annyeong-ri, Taean-eup, where his first crime occurred on September 15, 1986, after 34 years.

In fact, Lee Chun-jae committed crimes six times centered around Taean-eup and its vicinity, including the first incident in Taean-eup, the second incident on October 20, 1986, in Jinan-ri, the third incident on December 12 in Annyeong-ri, the sixth incident on May 2, 1987, in Jinan-ri, the eighth incident on September 16, 1988, in Jinan-ri, and the ninth incident on November 15, 1990, in Byeongjeom 5-ri. Perhaps because of this, the residents here unanimously agreed that Lee Chun-jae deserves the death penalty.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, in the area of Jinan-ri (currently Jinan-dong), Taean-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. The high-rise apartments visible in the distance were once rice paddies and fields. This area is the hometown of Lee Chun-jae, and the residents met that day urged for Lee Chun-jae's execution. The photo is unrelated to the Lee Chun-jae serial murder case. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Park, a man in his 70s who said he heard news of Lee Chun-jae's crimes daily in the 1980s, said, "It's a horrific case. People should not be killed like that. It's fortunate that (Lee Chun-jae's crimes) have all been revealed under the sky even now."

He added, "Now he will probably stay inside (prison) until he dies," and emphasized, "How will the victims be compensated? The family should step up and provide compensation." He raised his voice, saying, "The family should appear on broadcast, kneel, and apologize to the victims and their bereaved families."

Park, a resident in his 40s whom we met in front of the apartment complex playground, expressed frustration, saying, "He committed so many murders, so he should obviously be punished. But isn't it life imprisonment? I'm very dissatisfied that he is living like that with our taxes." He emphasized, "The victims are so unfortunate. Especially, some were falsely accused, right? They all need to be compensated."

There were also voices insisting that the law should be changed to impose the death penalty. A nearby resident in his 50s, Mr. A, said, "He's not a murderer who killed one or two people but a serial killer," and emphasized, "If he did such bad things, the death penalty is appropriate, not life imprisonment." He added, "If that happens, other criminals or those who intend to commit crimes will be scared and won't do bad things."

On the afternoon of the 2nd, residents near Jinan-ri (currently Jinan-dong), Taean-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, called for victim compensation related to the Lee Chun-jae case. The photo is unrelated to the Lee Chun-jae serial murder case. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Lee Chun-jae's serial murder cases occurred 14 times from 1986 to 1991: 4 cases in 1986, 3 in 1987, 2 in 1988, 1 in 1989, 1 in 1990, and 3 in 1991. He committed crimes every few months, sometimes killing within just two days.

According to the police, Lee Chun-jae was found to have committed all 10 murder cases that occurred consecutively in Hwaseong from September 15, 1986, to April 3, 1991, known as the Hwaseong serial murder cases.

The methods were brutal, and the bodies were indiscriminately mutilated, causing Hwaseong residents at the time to live in fear. Even after more than a decade, residents around Jinan-dong shudder when mentioning the cases, saying, "Oh, just thinking about it again is scary."

A woman in her 60s whom we met at an intersection in Jinan-dong said, "Lee Chun-jae is really a bad guy," and expressed anger, saying, "How could someone born as a human do such things? He deserves divine punishment."

The residents we met that day also expressed sorrow for the judicial victims who were falsely accused and died unjustly. A resident in his 40s said, "Those who are undergoing retrial are somewhat fortunate," but added, "Who will take responsibility for the pain they endured for such a long time? I hope the country compensates them." He emphasized, "Some other falsely accused victims have passed away; there should be measures for them as well."

Another man in his late 60s sighed deeply and said, "This is really an old case, but people still remember it," and added, "That shows how bad that guy (Lee Chun-jae) was." He expressed fear about the possibility of release, saying, "He can't come out of prison now, right?"

As a result of the police reinvestigation, it was revealed that Lee Chun-jae (57) was responsible for a series of murders in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, with the number of victims reaching 14. The motive for the crimes was the satisfaction of sexual desires, and he was investigated to have clear psychopathic tendencies. [Image source=Yonhap News]

"He committed sadistic crimes to satisfy his desires and express his internal frustrations."

According to police investigations, he was found to have antisocial personality disorder (psychopathy). The police explained that he committed murders due to suppressed frustrations and desires.

The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's "Lee Chun-jae Serial Murder Case Investigation Headquarters" announced the results of a one-year investigation on the morning of the 2nd, stating that Lee Chun-jae

committed sadistic crimes to satisfy sexual desires and express internal frustrations.

At the press conference, Bae Yong-joo, chief of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, said, "It has been confirmed that Lee Chun-jae committed 14 murders and 9 rapes," and "These cases were confirmed to be sadistic serial crimes committed by Lee Chun-jae to satisfy his (sexual) desires."

Regarding the motive, he explained, "Lee Chun-jae has an introverted personality and did not play a leading role in his life. He first experienced a sense of achievement and a leading role in the military. After discharge, in a boring and monotonous life, his stress increased, and in a state of frustration, he began committing sexual crimes to assert control."

According to the police, Lee Chun-jae did not feel guilt even after committing brutal sexual crimes and murders. Especially, as he continued killing, it turned into serial murders, and the methods became increasingly brutal and sadistic.

Additionally, in a psychopathy diagnosis test conducted by the police, Lee Chun-jae showed clear psychopathic tendencies, with results stating, "The subject shows no empathy for the pain and suffering of the victims."

Meanwhile, the police plan to continue investigating for additional crimes after transferring the case to the prosecution, beyond the cases Lee Chun-jae confessed to. However, punishment for all charges cannot be carried out due to the statute of limitations having expired.