[The Police File] The Tragedy of "Caregiver Murder"

Families Driven to Catastrophe by Caregiving Issues
A Robust Social Safety Net Can Prevent Tragedy
The 22nd National Assembly Must Address the Issue in Depth

One of the surprisingly common tragedies encountered at crime scenes is murder within families. Could it be because the Bible’s first murderer, Cain, killed his younger brother Abel? This is confirmed by statistics as well: according to the 2022 National Police Agency crime statistics, out of 298 murder cases (excluding attempts), 70 involved “cohabiting relatives” and 31 involved “other relatives.”

However, even within family murder cases, the types and realities often differ significantly upon closer examination. Some cases are so heinous that they are immediately labeled as “filial crimes,” while others, despite being unforgivable murders, evoke public sympathy and sorrow.

The former usually occur over money issues. One memorable case from my early days as a reporter in 2013 involved a patricide. A man in his twenties, Mr. A, who had accumulated about 14 million won in debt for entertainment expenses, killed his father at their home in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, then transported and abandoned the body at a reservoir in Naju, Jeollanam-do, along with his teenage girlfriend and others. The motive was that his father did not help resolve his financial difficulties. When Mr. A was arrested and brought to the police station, I asked him a few questions, but his expression was blank and he covered his face without uttering an apology?a scene that still lingers in my mind.

On the other hand, the latter often appears as “caregiver murder.” On the 16th, a first trial verdict was handed down in which a mother in her fifties, Ms. B, who killed her son in his twenties, received a suspended sentence. Ms. B had cared for her son, who had intellectual disabilities and brain lesions, for 26 years. However, her health deteriorated after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2022, compounded by depression. Eventually, Ms. B killed her son and attempted suicide but survived.

The Changwon District Court took these circumstances into account and sentenced her to three years in prison with a five-year suspension. The Changwon District Prosecutor’s Office, which had sought a six-year prison term during the trial, respected the decision of the citizen committee held after the verdict, which decided not to appeal, and thus chose not to file an appeal.

There is no sharp solution to the filicidal crimes motivated by family property. The only option is to strengthen punishment and ensure full accountability. However, caregiver murders are different. Most comments on internet portal articles express sentiments like “It’s tragic,” “So sad,” and “All I can do is sigh.”

Some worry that leniency by courts in caregiver murder cases might encourage a disregard for life, but how can anyone who is not directly involved truly understand the feelings of those involved? Most perpetrators of caregiver murder fail in their suicide attempts, which is how these cases come to light and lead to punishment.

The proverb “There is no filial son to a long illness” has already deeply permeated our lives. Anyone can become a caregiver, and anyone can become a patient receiving care. Nevertheless, caregiver murders tend to receive less attention compared to other types of murders such as dating murders or random killings. This may be because they have been occurring for a long time.

However, even now, at this very moment, there are families heading toward catastrophe due to caregiving issues. We cannot just stand by and watch tragedies that could be prevented if a proper social safety net were in place. Although a social consensus on the need to address caregiving problems has been sufficiently formed, related discussions have only just begun. We hope that the 22nd National Assembly, which will convene next month, will address caregiving issues in depth.