"Shillim-dong Hiking Trail" Choi Yoon-jong Deserted with Rifle and Live Ammunition as a Private First Class

Unauthorized Absence During Training in 2015, Gangwon Yeongwol
Planned Desertion... "Spoke to Himself Coldly"
"Admitted Strangling"... Transferred to Prosecution Custody on 25th

Choi Yoon-jong (30), who sexually assaulted and caused the death of a woman on a hiking trail in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, was confirmed to have deserted the military while carrying a rifle and live ammunition during his service.

According to an MBC report on the 24th, Choi Yoon-jong, who enlisted in the army around the end of 2014, participated in a severe cold weather training in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province as a private second class in February 2015, just two months after enlistment, and was found to have deserted without permission while carrying a rifle and live ammunition.

Choi Yoon-jong, accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman on a hiking trail in Sillim-dong, is being transferred to the prosecution at the Seoul Gwanak Police Station on the 25th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Choi Yoon-jong’s desertion was premeditated. After enlisting, he steadily saved about 100,000 won in cash, and after deserting, he tried to buy civilian clothes with this money but was caught by the police.

His senior in the military told MBC, "He exchanged money little by little at the PX, and on the day of the severe cold weather training, when no one was paying attention, he just said he was going to the bathroom and suddenly deserted carrying a rifle."

He was caught and brought to the Gangwon Yeongwol Police Station in handcuffs about two hours after deserting. At that time, he told reporters, "I don’t think I’m suited for military life."

In fact, Choi Yoon-jong seemed unable to adapt to military life. His senior said, "Suddenly, he would talk to himself alone in a corner. It seemed like his words were chilling. The officers would avoid talking to him because if any problem arose, they said they would all be sent to the military prison."

The military prosecution transferred Choi Yoon-jong’s desertion case to the civilian prosecution, which reportedly decided to suspend prosecution. Four months after desertion, Choi received treatment for depression once, but it is reported that he did not receive any further hospital treatment afterward.

[Image source=MBC news screen capture]

During police investigation on the day, Choi Yoon-jong admitted to "strangling the victim’s neck." While he had previously acknowledged the sexual assault charges, he had claimed there was no intent to kill. With his recent reversal of testimony, there is a possibility that charges of rape and murder under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act will be recognized. In such a case, the punishment would be either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Earlier, the National Forensic Service issued a preliminary oral opinion that the cause of death of the victim was "hypoxic brain injury due to cervical compression asphyxia." This means that as Choi strangled the victim’s neck, oxygen supply to the brain was cut off, causing brain damage, which ultimately led to the victim’s death.

Choi Yoon-jong was arrested on the 17th for assaulting and sexually assaulting the victim on a hiking trail in a mountain connected to a park in Sillim-dong, wearing metal knuckles on both hands. The victim, who was on her way to work at the time, died on the afternoon of the 19th, two days after the incident.

On the morning of the 25th, Choi was transferred from Gwanak Police Station in Seoul to the prosecution under custody. When asked by reporters whether he intended to kill from the beginning, he replied, "It was accidental, and I am sorry."