After Being Ignored for Stalking, a Man in His 20s Planned a Murder... Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison

Victim's Residence CCTV Damaged and Opposite House Rented... Equipped with Weapons
Judges: "Meticulously Planned Murder Preparation... Serious Crime Nature"

A man in his 20s who stalked and even planned to kill a former colleague who told him not to contact her was sentenced to three years in prison again in the appellate court. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] A man in his 20s who stalked and planned to murder a former coworker who told him not to contact her was sentenced to three years in prison in the appellate court as well.

On the 9th, the Criminal Division 2-2 of Suwon High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Gwanyong) dismissed the appeals of both A (27) and the prosecution in the appeal trial on charges including attempted murder, violation of the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, and nighttime residential intrusion theft, upholding the original sentence of three years imprisonment and three years probation. Additionally, during the probation period, A was ordered to comply with restrictions such as no contact or approach to the victim and completion of 80 hours of a stalking treatment program.

A was charged with stalking former coworker B (29) about 40 times over roughly a month after B sent a message in October 2021 asking him to stop contacting her, including texts like "You should avoid me well because I might do something."

He contacted B by pretending to be the building manager of B’s residence using a newly activated phone, saying "We need to inspect the water supply and meter," and obtained the front door password to secretly enter B’s home at night and steal items such as her wallet.

Eventually, feeling ignored, A decided to kill B. He damaged CCTV cameras installed in the hallway of B’s residential building by covering them with black tape and rented a house opposite B’s residence, where he prepared large bags, plastic bags, and weapons.

He also searched online for terms like "weapon," "asphyxiation," and "murder punishment" while planning the crime.

A was arrested by police in early December 2021 while heading toward B’s residence, waiting for an opportunity to commit the crime.

The first trial court stated, "The defendant decided to kill the victim after repeated attempts to contact her were ignored, searched for murder methods, and prepared tools for the crime. He even secured a house opposite the victim’s residence to store the tools, frequently observed the victim, and damaged CCTV to conceal the crime, showing a planned and meticulous preparation for murder."

It added, "Considering the motive, method, and specific acts, the crime is very serious. However, congenital cognitive impairment and poor social adaptation appear to be indirect causes of the crime, and fortunately, the defendant did not directly harm the victim."

The appellate court also stated, "Although the defendant admitted all charges and showed remorse, and his level 3 intellectual disability is a favorable factor, the planned and meticulous preparation for murder and the seriousness of the crime, along with the victim’s demand for severe punishment, mean the original sentence is not excessively harsh or unfair," explaining the reason for dismissing the appeal.