![A portrait of Lee Chae-won, victim of the Gwangju stabbing attack. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/02/news-p.v1.20260601.1955e16fc93f4d93a3010fef5394b168_P1.jpg)
The family of a teenage girl killed in a random stabbing attack in Gwangju on May 5 has revealed their daughter's name and face, asking the public to remember her not as a victim but as "17-year-old Lee Chae-won."
Lee Chae-won's parents disclosed her identity through MBC News on May 31, saying they decided to go public "in the hope that such a tragedy will never be repeated."
Lee had a clear sense of purpose, reportedly seeking out college counseling on her own because she wanted to study emergency medical services and pursue a career saving lives.
Her father, identified only by his surname Lee, described her as "such a kind child that she never even went through a rebellious phase," adding that she "never once got angry at her mom or dad."
"Chae-won couldn't even close her eyes in her final moments," he said. "I still can't sleep, haunted by the thought that as her parent, I couldn't do anything for her."
Lee Chae-won had a habit of texting her parents when she arrived home around midnight after hagwon classes, but on the night of the attack no message came, and she did not answer her phone. When her father received a call from police and rushed to the hospital, he assumed it was a traffic accident — it never crossed his mind that his daughter had become the victim of a violent crime.
In the early hours of May 5, Lee was stabbed and killed by Jang Yun-gi, 23, a stranger, as she walked home after studying. Jang attacked her on a quiet pedestrian path in Wolge-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, then turned his knife on a 17-year-old male student from another school who came running after hearing her screams.
According to police, Jang had planned the attack with the intent to kill a foreign woman in her 20s, identified only as A, who worked with him at a part-time job. Jang had been making one-sided romantic advances toward A, and two days before the attack — on May 3 — she reported him to the police emergency line as a stalker.
Unable to contain his rage, Jang spent two days roaming the streets looking for A, unaware that she had left the area immediately after filing the report. When he could not find her, he turned his anger on Lee, who was walking home alone.
Lee's father called for Jang to be severely punished and permanently removed from society.
"I never want the perpetrator to set foot in this world again," he said. "Even now, when I picture Chae-won in the emergency room, I feel like I'm going out of my mind. I don't know how I can go on."
Meanwhile, the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency convened an identity disclosure review committee for Jang, who is detained on charges of murder and attempted murder, and published his name, age and photo on its website on May 14.
Jang has since been referred to prosecutors on additional charges including violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (rape), and unlawful confinement.
The Gwangju-South Jeolla Province Memorial Solidarity group plans to hold a memorial service for Lee this month to mark the 49th day after her death.
yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com
