Prosecutors Appeal First Trial Verdict of 'Gangnam Kidnapping and Murder' Suspects

Death Penalty Sought for 4, but Life Imprisonment and 8 Years
6 Years Sentenced... "Sentence Too Light Compared to Crime"

The prosecution has appealed the first trial verdict, arguing that the sentences handed down to the perpetrators of the so-called 'Gangnam kidnapping and murder' case were too lenient given the severity of the crime.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 31st that it filed an appeal with the court against the main suspect Lee Kyung-woo (36) and all seven accomplices, who were tried on charges of robbery and murder committed in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul, citing reasons such as inappropriate sentencing.

A prosecution official stated, "Considering the crime, the sentences given to each individual are all too light, and the parts judged as not guilty were deemed to be based on a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of facts and law, which is why we appealed."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution added, "As in the first trial, the investigating prosecutor will directly oversee the appeal trial to ensure thorough prosecution, and we plan to actively present sentencing conditions so that sentences commensurate with the crimes can be imposed. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and will faithfully perform the prosecution’s fundamental role of protecting the public from crime."

Earlier, Lee Kyung-woo (36), Hwang Dae-han (36), and Yeon Ji-ho (30) were indicted on charges of kidnapping A (48 at the time of death) by car in front of an apartment complex in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, at 11:46 p.m. on March 29, then murdering him the next morning and secretly burying the body in a mountain near Daecheong Dam in Daejeon (charges of robbery murder, attempted robbery, and corpse disposal).

Yoo Sang-won (51) and Hwang Eun-hee (49), a married couple, were also indicted for handing over 70 million won to Lee Kyung-woo’s proposal to kidnap A, with whom they had conflicts due to failed virtual asset investments, to seize virtual assets and kill him.

The prosecution sought the death penalty for Lee Kyung-woo, Hwang Dae-han, Yoo Sang-won, and Hwang Eun-hee, and life imprisonment for Yeon Ji-ho. However, on the 25th, the first trial court sentenced Lee Kyung-woo and Hwang Dae-han to life imprisonment, which was lighter than the prosecution’s request. The court acquitted Yoo Sang-won and Hwang Eun-hee of murder charges, stating it was difficult to recognize prior conspiracy to kill, and sentenced them to eight years and six years in prison, respectively.

Lee Mo, who is accused of assisting the crime by tracking the victim’s movements, and Heo Mo, Lee Kyung-woo’s wife, who worked as a nursing assistant and diverted psychotropic drugs from the hospital to provide to the trio, were each sentenced to five years in prison.

The victim’s family protested in court, crying out, "The death penalty must be imposed unconditionally," upon hearing the lighter-than-expected sentences.