Severe Sentence in Seoul Stalking Murder Case
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for the brutal murder of a woman he stalked for months, including during his own hospitalization. The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 7 delivered the severe punishment on Wednesday, citing the defendant’s escalating violence and refusal to accept the victim’s rejection.
Pattern of Escalating Violence
Court documents reveal the stalker began harassing the victim three months prior to the March attack in Seoul’s Gangseo District. Despite being hospitalized for psychiatric treatment, he continued demanding sexual favors from the victim, a recently divorced woman.
Authorities confirm the harassment intensified after her divorce, with the defendant sending threatening messages claiming “women should obey men’s demands” and expressing resentment about her marital status. The victim had previously reported him to police after physical confrontations escalated.
Final Brutal Attack
Investigators detailed how the stalker ambushed the woman at her residence, stabbing her multiple times in what prosecutors described as a premeditated attack. Security footage showed the assailant fleeing immediately after the fatal assault.
Court Rejects Defendant’s Claims
During sentencing, judges dismissed the killer’s attempts to blame the victim, stating: “No circumstances justify this murder, regardless of the defendant’s claims about their relationship.” The bench noted the perpetrator had manipulated facts to portray himself as the victim during initial proceedings.
Legal analysts observed the severe sentence reflects South Korea’s strengthened anti-stalking laws following recent high-profile cases. The court specifically referenced the defendant’s complete lack of remorse and dangerous likelihood of reoffending as factors in the maximum-term decision.
