"Supplementary investigation revealed charges of murder in the course of rape under sex crime law"

"Suspect also indicted on sexual assault and stalking charges against a coworker"

"Parents' grief beyond words — zero tolerance, maximum punishment"

Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho. [Yonhap]
Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho. [Yonhap]

By Yang Geun-hyuk, The Herald Business

Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho said Monday he would ensure that Yang Geun-hyuk, 23, indicted on charges of stabbing a high school girl to death in broad daylight in Gwangju, does not receive an undue sentence reduction by claiming diminished mental capacity or submitting a false letter of remorse during trial.

In a post on his social media account, Jeong said prosecutors had formally indicted Yang and brought him before the law. He said the charge was not the "simple murder" initially reported in connection with the death of 17-year-old Lee Chae-won, but rather "murder in the course of rape" under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes — a more serious charge uncovered through a full supplementary investigation by the Gwangju District Prosecutors Office after police transferred the case.

Jeong said Yang was also indicted on charges of sexually assaulting and stalking a female coworker, calling the crimes "appalling and shocking."

"Two days ago, Chae-won's parents publicly released their daughter's name and photo and made a heartfelt plea for severe punishment of the perpetrator Yang Geun-hyuk," Jeong wrote. "As a father of two daughters myself, I cannot begin to fathom the grief of parents who lost their beloved daughter overnight and are pleading through tears for justice."

He said it was all the more heartbreaking because Lee had been a warm and kind student who dreamed of studying emergency medical services to save lives. Jeong said the Ministry of Justice would apply a zero-tolerance principle and seek the harshest punishment not only for Yang's crimes but for all vicious offenses targeting vulnerable members of society, including minors and women.

Jeong added that the ministry would do its utmost to support the bereaved family's psychological recovery and to develop measures to prevent similar crimes.

He also paid tribute to a male student who was seriously injured after bravely stepping in to help Lee, calling him "a righteous conscience our society must never forget."

"I again offer my condolences to the late Lee Chae-won, and extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends who are enduring profound shock and grief," Jeong said. "The Ministry of Justice will fulfill its responsibility to make this country safe from crime."

The Gwangju District Prosecutors Office's Criminal Division 3, led by chief prosecutor Kim Jin-hee, announced Monday that it had indicted Yang on charges including murder in the course of rape under the sex crime law. Yang was arrested on the morning of May 5, the same day he allegedly killed a second-year high school student on a secluded pedestrian path in Wolge-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, around midnight. An arrest warrant was issued May 7, and police transferred him to prosecutors while in custody. Prosecutors then launched their own supplementary investigation.

Earlier, the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency convened a personal information disclosure review committee on May 14 and released Yang's name and photo to the public.


yg@heraldcorp.com