Gang Yoon-sung to Face Citizen Jury Trial in February Next Year for Electronic Ankle Bracelet Tampering and Serial Murders

Kang Yoon-sung (56), who is accused of murdering two women before and after damaging an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet), is being transferred to the prosecution from the Songpa Police Station in Seoul on September 7. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Kang Yoon-seong (56), who was arrested and indicted for damaging an electronic ankle bracelet and murdering two women, will face a jury trial.

The Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Chief Judge Park Sang-gu) announced on the 2nd that it accepted Kang’s request for a jury trial in the case where he was indicted on charges of robbery-murder and murder.

The jury for the trial will consist of nine members, with one alternate juror. According to the Act on Participation in Criminal Trials by the People, cases with a statutory sentence of life imprisonment or more require nine jurors. The jury trial is scheduled to take place on February 8 of next year.

Previously, at the first hearing held in October, Kang had expressed that he did not want a jury trial but reversed his position, stating that "there are many exaggerated contents in the indictment."

The court stated on the day, "The defendant’s intention regarding the trial should be prioritized," and added, "(The defendant’s reversal of position) is not considered to significantly delay the trial process or undermine procedural stability."

Article 8, Paragraph 4 of the Act on Participation in Criminal Trials by the People stipulates that after the first trial date has been held, the defendant cannot change their previous intention regarding a jury trial.

The court explained, "This provision is intended to prevent confusion caused by repeated changes of intention," and added, "While it is difficult to allow cases that severely undermine procedural stability, such as reversing one’s position after the verdict has been reached, it is hard to deny a jury trial at the current trial stage where evidence investigation has not yet been conducted."

Kang, who had kept his head down and eyes closed throughout the court session, took the opportunity to speak, saying, "I sincerely confessed because I regretted the crime, but the investigative agency used that as a pretext to make me more cruel," and tearfully added, "I am so unfairly treated that I want the objective facts to be recognized."

Kang’s newly appointed defense attorney met with reporters after the trial and said, "The defendant’s intention must be respected," and "Since jurors are selected on the day of the jury trial, the outcome cannot be easily predicted."

Meanwhile, Kang was arrested and indicted on charges of killing a woman in her 40s at his home on August 26 this year, cutting off his electronic ankle bracelet and fleeing the next afternoon, and then killing another woman in her 50s.