[Breaking] Supreme Court Confirms Life Sentence for Chosun in 'Shillim Station Stabbing Rampage'

A life sentence was confirmed for Joseon (34), who caused four casualties by wielding a weapon in broad daylight in the bustling area of Sillim-dong, Seoul.

On the 12th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Noh Kyung-pil) dismissed Joseon's appeal in the final trial for charges including murder, attempted murder, theft, fraud, and insult, confirming the original court ruling that sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The court stated, "Considering various sentencing factors shown in the records such as age, character, environment, relationship with the victims, motives, means and results of each crime in this case, and circumstances after the crimes, it cannot be said that the original court's life sentence for the defendant is grossly unjust."

Additionally, the court explained the reason for dismissing the appeal, saying, "Whether to accept evidence requests is within the court's discretion, so even if the original court did not conduct additional fact-finding or evidence investigation ex officio, there is no error such as failing to conduct necessary hearings in the trial procedure or infringing on the defendant's right to defense and the right to a fair trial."

Regarding the consolidated case requesting an electronic monitoring order, the court said, "There is no error in the original court's judgment to order the attachment of an electronic tracking device for 30 years and impose compliance requirements, judging that the defendant poses a risk of committing murder again."

Joseon was brought to trial on charges of killing a 20-year-old male pedestrian he did not know and attempting to kill three men in their 30s by wielding a weapon in an alley near Sillim Station on Subway Line 2 in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on July 21 last year.

On the same day, he was also charged with stealing two weapons from a mart in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, for the crime and riding a taxi without paying for transportation. He was also indicted for insult for posting a comment on an anonymous internet community board on December 27, 2022, implying that a specific game YouTuber was "probably homosexual."

Joseon, who lived reclusively due to ongoing employment difficulties caused by COVID-19 and was sued for insult because of writings he posted online, was investigated to have planned and executed a public murder of young men after receiving a summons from the police four days before the crime.

The first trial found him guilty of all charges except insult, sentenced Joseon to life imprisonment, and ordered the attachment of an electronic tracking device for 30 years.

At the first trial's sentencing hearing, the prosecution sought the death penalty, but the court considered factors such as Joseon's desperate state due to fear of punishment ahead of a separate insult crime investigation, the fact that the crime was not premeditated long ago, and his emotionally unstable childhood, concluding that the death penalty was not appropriate.

Both the prosecution and Joseon appealed, but the appellate court's judgment was the same.

Before the appellate court's sentencing in June, Joseon submitted five letters of remorse?three in April, and one each in May and June?pleading for leniency from the court.

However, the court stated, "The original court comprehensively considered the defendant's age, character, intelligence, environment, motive, means, and results of the crime as shown in the records and sentenced him to life imprisonment, the second heaviest sentence after the death penalty, to be isolated and imprisoned for life to repent," adding, "The original court's sentence cannot be said to be excessively harsh or lenient."

At the Supreme Court, the issues were whether the life sentence from the appellate court was excessively harsh and unjust, whether the appellate court failed to conduct necessary hearings thus infringing on the right to defense, and whether the order to attach the electronic tracking device was unjust.