20s Man Who Tried to Kill Boyfriend Who Stopped Sexual Assault... Court's Anger "50-Year Sentence"

Disguised as Delivery Worker to Enter Shared Entrance
Victim's Boyfriend Suffers Brain Damage with Low Chance of Full Recovery
50-Year Prison Sentence, Highest Fixed-Term Imprisonment in Court

A defendant who followed a woman walking down the street, brandished a weapon to attempt sexual assault, and then tried to kill the woman’s boyfriend who intervened, was sentenced to a heavier punishment than the prosecution’s recommendation.

The Criminal Division 11 of Daegu District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jong-gil) on the 30th sentenced 28-year-old delivery worker A, who was indicted for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, to 50 years in prison.

A defendant who followed a woman on the street, attempted to sexually assault her with a weapon, and tried to kill the woman's boyfriend who intervened was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Additionally, A was ordered to be banned from employment at child-related institutions for 10 years and to wear an electronic location tracking device for 20 years.

Previously, the prosecution had requested a 30-year prison sentence for A. The sentence being 20 years longer than the prosecution’s recommendation is unusual, and the 50-year imprisonment is the maximum sentence allowed by law. Article 42 of the Criminal Act stipulates the upper limit of imprisonment with labor as 30 years, but when sentences are aggravated, a maximum of 50 years can be imposed.

On May 13 at around 10:56 p.m., A followed 23-year-old woman B into a one-room apartment in northern Daegu where she was returning home, brandished a weapon, and attempted sexual assault.

At that moment, B’s boyfriend C, who had come to visit, intervened and a physical struggle ensued. During the altercation, A stabbed C multiple times in the face, neck, and shoulder, attempting to kill him, but failed.

As a result of the attack, C suffered cardiac arrest twice, fell into an unconscious state, underwent surgery in the intensive care unit, regained consciousness, but sustained permanent disabilities.

A fled the scene after the incident but was caught by police about three hours later through identification via his motorcycle’s license plate.

Investigations revealed that he had targeted women living in one-room apartments, disguised himself as a delivery worker to avoid suspicion, premeditatedly prepared a weapon, and carefully planned the crime in advance.

He was also found to have searched for terms such as “Bucheon elevator murder case” and “rape” on his mobile phone. During the prosecution’s investigation, an additional charge was added for illegally filming a naked woman in July 2021.

The court criticized, “The female victim suffered a horrific crime by a stranger in the safest place, her own home. The male victim underwent surgery for over 20 hours, regained consciousness after about a month, but sustained permanent disabilities due to hypoxic brain injury, with little chance of full recovery.”

It continued, “The defendant has not been forgiven by the victims and their families and has made no effort to restore the damage.” This was given as the reason for the sentencing.

Meanwhile, A’s crime is similar to the “Busan Roundhouse Kick” case in May, where a woman was struck on the back of the head with a roundhouse kick in an officetel, followed by indiscriminate assault and sexual assault, and is also called the “Daegu version of the Roundhouse Kick.”

The perpetrator Lee of the “Busan Roundhouse Kick” case was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Supreme Court in September, confirming the original ruling. The orders for 10 years of public disclosure of personal information, employment restrictions at child, youth, and disability-related institutions, and 20 years of electronic location tracking device attachment were also maintained.