Prosecution Seeks Death Penalty for Choi Yoon-jong in 'Hiking Trail Murder' Case, Citing High Risk of Recidivism

The prosecution has sought the death penalty for Choi Yoon-jong (30), who murdered a woman he did not know in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

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

On the 11th, at the sentencing hearing of Choi Yoon-jong held by the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Jin-ah), the prosecution requested, "Considering that he shows no remorse at all and poses a high risk of reoffending if released back into society, and taking into account the irreversible damage suffered by the victim's family, we ask that Choi Yoon-jong be sentenced to death."

The prosecution emphasized, "This case involves the defendant sexually assaulting and murdering a stranger on a hiking trail in a city park during the daytime. It is necessary to impose a corresponding punishment so that the perception that those who commit such crimes cannot escape the severest penalties becomes widespread."

Choi Yoon-jong was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting victim A on the Mokgolsan hiking trail connected to Gwanaksan Ecological Park in Sillim-dong on August 17, brutally beating her with a fist wearing a metal knuckle, and strangling her to death for at least three minutes. Victim A was left at the scene for about 20 minutes before being transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and died two days later from hypoxic brain injury.