Bereaved Family "Anger Rises When Talking to Perpetrator's Parents"
Victim Dies of Multiple Organ Failure Due to Sepsis
Perpetrator Under Investigation Without Detention
Regarding the case in Geoje, Gyeongnam, where a man in his 20s unlawfully entered his ex-girlfriend's house and assaulted her, leading to her death, the victim's family stated, "When we talk to the perpetrator's parents, anger just wells up," and claimed, "Even though our daughter was injured and bedridden, (the perpetrator's parents) treated it as if it was someone else's problem."
On the 14th, JTBC's 'Case Manager' released an interview with the victim Lee Hyo-jeong's father. The perpetrator, identified as A, broke into Lee's one-room apartment in Geoje, Gyeongnam, around 8 a.m. on the 1st of last month and assaulted her head and face. Lee was diagnosed with traumatic subdural hemorrhage and given a six-week recovery period. While hospitalized for treatment, she died on the 10th of the same month due to multiple organ failure caused by sepsis.
On the 18th of last month, the Gyeongnam Women's Association Federation, Gyeongnam Women's Welfare Counseling Center and Facility Council held 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 police urgently arrested A on the 11th of last month on charges of injury resulting in death, but the prosecution did not approve the arrest, citing no concerns of evidence tampering or flight risk, so A is currently under investigation without detention. The National Forensic Service verbally informed the police that Lee's cause of death was not due to A's assault, and a detailed examination result is pending.
Lee and A were high school classmates who had an on-and-off relationship since 2022, but they had already broken up at the time of the incident. It is known that their parents had contact information for each other due to A's frequent violent behavior. However, A's parents only apologized for his assault on the day Lee was hospitalized last month.
Lee's father recounted, "I met the perpetrator's parents in the hospital lobby on the first floor, and they said, 'First of all, we are sorry.' So I told them, 'A has assaulted our daughter more than once, and this time it is absolutely unforgivable. She was seriously injured. If you saw our daughter's face, you wouldn't stay silent either. I hope this time he pays for his crime.'" In response, A's father showed an indifferent attitude, saying, "In a way, he is my child, so if you want, do as you please."
Lee's father expressed, "When I talk to the perpetrator's parents, anger just wells up. Our daughter was seriously injured and bedridden, yet they show no seriousness at all. They treat it as if it were someone else's problem," and added, "If she was hospitalized because of being beaten, they should ask, 'What should we do? Is she okay?' but instead, they say things like, 'Well, if she dies, it can't be helped. What can we do?'" he vented.
A photo circulating online of a man in his 20s from Geoje-si, Gyeongnam, who went to his ex-girlfriend's house and violently assaulted her, causing her death. [Image source=Online community capture]
Even on the day Lee's condition worsened, A's father responded coldly, saying, "Let's talk in more detail." At that time, Lee's mother said, "I am Hyo-jeong's mother. Hyo-jeong's life is in danger right now. If Hyo-jeong dies, (A) will not be left alone." Then A's father said, "My wife is under a lot of stress," and it is known that Lee's mother was blocked from contacting A's mother.
Meanwhile, last month, A's personal information and photos were shared on various online communities. Born in 2004, A followed the victim Lee to the same university and continued to harass her there, which eventually led Lee to take a leave of absence after completing her first semester of freshman year.
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