"Family Dies from Dating Violence..." Subway Line 4 Announcement Moves Citizens to Tears

Line 4 Namtaryeong Station. Image unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] "My family member recently died due to dating violence, and I have posted a petition on the national petition board, so please pay attention. I understand that this announcement may be uncomfortable, but this is the only way to inform you, so please understand."

On the 16th, a citizen who boarded Line 4 of the subway on the way home from work heard an unusual announcement from the train operator. The citizen shared, "I almost burst into tears because I was so sad while listening to the announcement."

This story was shared across various online communities and social networking services (SNS), drawing attention, and netizens speculated that the operator’s family member was a woman named A (25), who recently died after being assaulted by her boyfriend.

Earlier, on July 25, A was assaulted during an argument with her boyfriend B (31) at an officetel in Mapo-gu, Seoul. A suffered severe blows to her head and other areas, lost consciousness, and collapsed. She was taken to the hospital but remained in a coma and ultimately passed away on the 17th of last month.

A’s mother posted a message titled "I am the mother of a daughter who died after being assaulted by her boyfriend" on the Blue House national petition board on the 25th of last month, appealing for strict punishment of the perpetrator.

The family of Ms. A, who died after being assaulted by her boyfriend, posted a petition on the Blue House National Petition website on the 25th, demanding severe punishment for the perpetrator.
[Photo by Blue House National Petition website capture]

In her post, A’s mother wrote, "Please arrest and investigate the perpetrator who brutally assaulted a woman to death and disclose his identity," and urged, "I call for the establishment of a Dating Violence Aggravated Punishment Act to strictly punish assault crimes in romantic relationships." She added, "No more unjust incidents like what happened to my child should occur."

As of the 18th, this petition has garnered about 494,000 supporters. The petition will close on the 24th.

Additionally, A’s acquaintances took the lead in publicizing the case through SNS and other platforms. They created an Instagram account named "Dear My Friends" and posted card news containing A’s story.

Netizens who encountered the subway announcement story responded with comments such as, "My heart truly breaks," "If it were my family, I would be devastated," "Please strengthen the punishment for dating violence," "I cannot fathom the heart of a parent asking for help even through an announcement," and "Reveal the perpetrator’s identity. It’s frustrating."

One netizen, who identified themselves as a railway employee, wrote, "Around the 15th, there was a company-wide email asking for support for the petition," adding, "It’s the family of the woman who died from dating violence; they must be really desperate."

Meanwhile, the court issued an arrest warrant on the 15th for B, who is charged with injury resulting in death, citing concerns that he might flee.