Prosecutors Seek Life Sentence for Man in His 40s Who Killed Wife and Two Sons

Drove Family into the Sea After Administering Sleeping Pills Due to Financial Hardship
Court Questions Petition for Leniency
Prosecution Argues "Isolation from Society Is Necessary"

A man in his 40s who killed his wife and two sons citing financial hardship pleaded for leniency in court, but prosecutors demanded a life sentence.

On the afternoon of June 2, rescue workers from the Mokpo Coast Guard Station conducted a search operation related to a vehicle fall accident near Jindo Port in Jindo County, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard

On August 22, the 12th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jaesung) held a trial for Ji (49), who was indicted on charges of murder and aiding suicide. Ji is accused of driving his car, with his wife and two high school-aged sons inside, into the sea at Jindo Port in Imhoe-myeon, Jindo County, Jeollanam-do, in the early morning of June 1, resulting in the deaths of all three family members.

Before committing the crime, Ji gave his family sleeping pills, while he himself escaped through an open car window and survived. He had been working as a rebar worker at construction sites and was facing about 200 million KRW in credit card debt and approximately 30 million KRW in unpaid wages. Investigations revealed that the day before the incident, his sons had been planning a trip and looking up restaurants to visit together.

Ji admitted to all charges but submitted a written statement and a petition seeking leniency. The court questioned the circumstances under which the petition was submitted, asking, "What kind of people are those who wrote the petition?" Ji's attorney explained, "I wrote the written statement, and the petition was submitted by the defendant's older brother through acquaintances."

The court also asked whether Ji had taken any rescue measures immediately after the crime, but when Ji failed to answer clearly, the court reprimanded him. After reviewing some evidence in a closed session, the prosecution demanded a life sentence, stating, "The defendant is cold-hearted and irresponsible and must be isolated from society."

In his final statement, Ji said, "I am truly sorry to my children for my wrong decision." The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 19th of next month.