Prosecution Seeks Death Penalty in Appeal Trial of Park Daesung for 'Random Murder'

Prosecutor Appeals, Arguing Life Sentence Is Too Lenient
Requests Death Penalty with Two Pages of Stated Reasons

In the appeal trial of Park Daesung (32), the 'random murder suspect' who stabbed an unknown teenage girl to death with a weapon on a road in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do last September, the prosecution demanded the death penalty.

On the morning of the 3rd, the appeal trial of Park Daesung was held at the Gwangju High Court, Criminal Division 1 (Judge Kim Jin-hwan presiding).

Teenage Female Adolescent Murderer Park Dae-sung. Yonhap News

Park was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device for 20 years in the first trial. The prosecution appealed, arguing that life imprisonment was too lenient. They also pleaded with the court to sentence the defendant to death, presenting a two-page A4 document outlining their reasons.

The prosecutor said, "The people dream of a country where they can live safely before becoming wealthy and powerful," adding, "The fundamental reason judges and prosecutors work overtime every day and immerse themselves in extensive case records is for the safety of the people of the Republic of Korea." He continued, "When ordinary citizens see a 17-year-old female student stabbed to death by the defendant without any reason while walking down the street, they lose hope for tomorrow," and "Netizens are angry, saying the defendant should suffer the same fate." He raised his voice, saying, "In the future, ordinary people might have to wear stab-proof or bulletproof vests when going out."

The prosecutor stated, "Park Daesung brutally murdered the victim, who could not realize her dreams at a tender age, to resolve his personal emotions," and "yet the defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment, not death, which could allow parole and release after about ten years."

He added, "If the world is such that victims suffer more than murderers, what hope is there for the people who endure hardships and postpone happiness today?" and requested the death penalty, saying, "The sentencing for murder is the standard for all criminal punishments."

In his final statement, Park Daesung said, "Because of my wrong actions, a person lost their life, and the bereaved family has suffered an irreparable emotional wound," adding, "I know I cannot be forgiven, and all I can say now is that I am sorry."

Park was indicted on charges of stabbing an 18-year-old woman multiple times without reason while she was walking in Jorye-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do at 12:44 a.m. on September 26 last year, and appealed after being sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial. He was also charged with preparing for additional murders by visiting a pub and karaoke room operated by a female owner without wearing shoes and carrying a weapon after the crime.

The police disclosed Park Daesung’s personal information and mugshot during the investigation, considering the brutality of the crime and the serious damage caused. The victim student’s father, who attended the trial in a wheelchair, submitted a petition to the appellate court asking for severe punishment.

The sentencing hearing for Park’s appeal trial will be held on May 1.