Women’s organizations in the Gyeongnam region recently demanded the arrest and strict punishment of the perpetrator, claiming that a woman who died while receiving hospital treatment after being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend had been subjected to habitual violence and stalking.
The Gyeongnam Women’s Organizations Federation, Gyeongnam Women’s Welfare Counseling Center and Facility Council, and others held a press conference on the 18th in front of the Gyeongnam Police Agency building, demanding, “The police must accurately clarify the cause of the victim’s death and impose aggravated punishment on the perpetrator.”
They stated, “The perpetrator, the ex-boyfriend, illegally entered Ms. A’s home and assaulted her indiscriminately, and Ms. A died while receiving hospital treatment,” adding, “Ms. A said that during her hospital stay, she was beaten for over an hour while repeatedly losing and regaining consciousness.”
“The National Forensic Service issued an opinion that the assault was not the direct cause of Ms. A’s death,” they said, raising their voices, “It is unacceptable that a healthy young person died 10 days after the assault and that it is claimed the assault was not the cause.”
The Gyeongnam Women's Association, Gyeongnam Women's Welfare Counseling Center and Facility Council, and others are holding a press conference in front of the Gyeongnam Police Agency entrance, urging the arrest and strict punishment of the perpetrator. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]
The organizations argued that the male perpetrator, Mr. B, should be charged not only with injury resulting in death and trespassing but also with stalking.
“The perpetrator, a high school classmate of Ms. A, reportedly frequently inflicted violence on her regardless of time, place, or situation even while they were dating,” they explained. “Ms. A could not endure this and broke up with him, but the perpetrator continued to force meetings, made dozens of calls a day, and showed up unannounced to beat her.”
“Ms. A changed her phone number and online messenger accounts to avoid contact with the perpetrator, but he found her contact information through mutual classmates,” they appealed, “Stalking by someone in an intimate relationship must be severely punished.”
Ms. A’s mother, who attended the press conference, said, “I cried while looking at my daughter who did not respond no matter how much I called her. I saw that she could not close her eyes. No matter how much I tried to close them, they wouldn’t close,” adding, “She asked me, ‘Mom, can I live?’ and that was her last words.”
She continued, “I sincerely hope that the National Forensic Service’s detailed examination will yield proper results to soothe the soul of our daughter lying in a cold place.”
The Gyeongnam Women's Association Federation, the Gyeongnam Women's Welfare Counseling Center, and the Facility Council President are reading a press conference statement. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]
The victim, Ms. A, in her 20s, was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Mr. B at her rented room in Gohyeon-dong, Geoje City, Gyeongnam, around 8 a.m. on the 1st and was taken to the hospital.
She was diagnosed with traumatic subdural hemorrhage and given a six-week recovery period, but she passed away on the 10th due to multiple organ failure caused by sepsis while undergoing treatment.
The police urgently arrested Mr. B the day after Ms. A’s death, but the prosecution did not approve the urgent arrest, stating that the conditions for urgent arrest requiring urgency were not met, so Mr. B is being investigated without detention.
The National Forensic Service, which conducted the autopsy, verbally stated that the cause of Ms. A’s death was not the assault.
The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident with Mr. B and have also requested a detailed examination from the National Forensic Service regarding the cause of Ms. A’s death.
The police expect the results of the National Forensic Service’s detailed examination to be released in about three months.
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