Choi Yoonjong, who was accused of brutally assaulting and murdering a woman with the intent to sexually assault her on a hiking trail in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial.
Defendant Yoonjong Choi in the "Sillimdong Hiking Trail Sexual Assault and Murder Case." Photo by Yonhap News
On January 22, the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Jina) sentenced Choi Yoonjong to life imprisonment for murder and other charges under the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, after he was indicted and detained.
The court stated, "It is recognized as proven that the defendant intentionally killed the victim, including by strongly compressing her neck. The victim, who did nothing wrong, lost her life and there is no way for her or her family to recover from this loss. The bereaved family is also suffering irreparable pain."
The court added, "When the state, which has a responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens, imposes a punishment that deprives someone of life, it must act with great caution. Although parole is possible after 20 years for those sentenced to life imprisonment, in the case of serious offenders, it is still possible to permanently isolate the defendant from society by strictly reviewing and limiting parole eligibility."
The court explained its sentencing by stating, "Rather than depriving the defendant of life itself, sentencing him to life imprisonment, which permanently isolates him from society and deprives him of his freedom, will prevent the possibility of recidivism. During his incarceration, the defendant should have time to sincerely apologize to the victim and her family, who lost a precious life due to this crime, and to reflect on his wrongdoing."
Choi Yoonjong was brought to trial on charges of beating the victim indiscriminately with a fist wearing brass knuckles and strangling her for about three minutes on the Mokgol Mountain hiking trail in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on the morning of August 17 last year. At the sentencing hearing in December last year, prosecutors demanded the death penalty, stating, "He shows no remorse, poses a high risk of reoffending if returned to society, and the victim's family has suffered irreparable harm."
Immediately after the sentence was handed down, the victim's family cried out, "Why spare his life?" The family, in tears, said, "I don't understand how neither the perpetrator nor his family has offered even a single word of apology." They added, "The perpetrator said he planned the crime after seeing the 'Busan Kicking Case.' I am worried that this case might lead to copycat crimes."
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