Court Sentences Kwon Jae-chan to Death in First Trial for 'Serial Murders of Men and Women'

"Rehabilitation and Restoration of Humanity Impossible, Eternal Isolation Necessary"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Kwon Jae-chan (53), who killed a middle-aged woman he knew and caused the death of an accomplice who helped dispose of the body, was sentenced to death in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 15 of the Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Gyu-hoon) held the first trial sentencing hearing on the 23rd for Kwon, who was arrested and indicted on charges of robbery-murder and corpse disposal, and sentenced him to death. The court also ordered Kwon to wear an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) for 30 years.

The court stated, "Considering the defendant's crimes, it appears that rehabilitation and restoration of humanity are impossible," and judged that "it is necessary to isolate him from society forever."

Earlier, the prosecution had requested the death penalty for Kwon during the sentencing hearing. They also requested a fine of 7.82 million won, a 20-year order to wear the electronic device, and a 5-year probation order. Kwon reportedly said in his final statement, "I am shameless, but I am sorry and regretful to the victim's family."

Kwon was arrested and indicted on charges of assaulting and strangling a woman in her 50s, Ms. A, whom he knew, in the underground parking lot of a commercial building in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on the morning of December 4 last year, and disposing of her body in the trunk of a passenger car. Investigations revealed that after accumulating debts exceeding at least 100 million won, including gambling debts, he approached Ms. A, whom he met through an offline gathering, built a relationship, and then committed the crime.

The next day, he is also accused of killing his accomplice, a man in his 40s named Mr. B, by beating him with a blunt weapon he had prepared in advance in a mountain near Eulwang-ri, Jung-gu, Incheon, and secretly burying the body nearby.

Kwon was previously indicted in 2003 on charges including robbery-murder, sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial, and received a 15-year prison sentence on appeal. After the Supreme Court finalized his sentence, he served his term and was released four years ago, only to commit crimes again.