[Herald DB]
[Herald DB]

A man in his 40s who killed his girlfriend and kept her body in a refrigerator for nearly a year has had his 30-year prison sentence confirmed.

The Supreme Court's First Division, presided over by Justice Shin Suk-hee, upheld the lower court's ruling Wednesday, confirming the sentence for the man, identified only as A, on charges of murder, abandonment of a corpse and computer fraud, according to Yonhap.

A was tried on charges of killing his girlfriend, identified as B, at an apartment in Jochon-dong, Gunsan, in October 2024, after four years of dating, and hiding her body in a refrigerator.

He also faced charges of taking out loans of 88 million won ($63,600) in B's name after her death and spending the money on living expenses.

After the killing, A used B's mobile phone to exchange messages with her family, making it appear she was still alive.

The first-instance court sentenced him to 30 years, saying "a heavy sentence must be imposed to isolate him from society for a long period."

The trial court also said A had "desecrated the victim by leaving her in a cold refrigerator for 11 months, destroying even her final dignity." The appeals court noted that A had deposited 15 million won into criminal escrow for the victim's family during the second trial, but the bereaved family refused to accept it and submitted a withdrawal consent form. The court added that "considering the method of the crime and the extent of the damage, the deposit alone does not appear to be sufficient grounds to reduce the sentence."

A appealed again, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finding no error in the lower courts' rulings.

Victim's daughter: 'Maximum punishment the law allows'

During the police investigation, A stated that he acted in a fit of rage after B mocked him for losing money by ignoring her advice on share investments.

In his final statement before the appeals court, A said, "I know well that I cannot be forgiven for the terrible wrong I have done," adding that he would "accept whatever punishment is given for the crime I committed."

The victim's daughter said at the time that she was "hurt even more" upon learning that A had appealed despite committing such a grave crime. "No matter what punishment the defendant receives, I will never be able to see my mother again while I am alive," she said.

She went on to say she wanted to ask "whether there was even a single moment of sincerity" in A, who had lived with the family like one of their own for a long time. "I earnestly ask that the defendant be given the maximum punishment the law allows," she said.


yul@heraldcorp.com