20s Couple Admits Charges in First Trial for 'Torture-Level' Abuse of Senior Living Together

Victim Suffers Third-Degree Burns and Skin Necrosis Injuries

A couple in their 20s, accused of torturing an acquaintance living in the same house to the level of severe injury (special assault), is leaving the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station on July 17th to attend a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing). / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A couple in their 20s, who were charged with torturing a senior from their school days over several months while living together, admitted to all the charges.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Gwangju District Court (Chief Judge Jeong Jiseon) held the first trial on the 11th for Park Mo (21) and his girlfriend Yoo Mo (23), who were indicted on charges including special grievous bodily harm and special confinement causing injury.

On that day, when the judge asked if they admitted to the charges, both answered "Yes."

Park is accused of habitually assaulting A, a senior from his middle school, while living together at his home in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, from February to June for about four months. Yoo is accused of participating in the crimes while living in the same house with them.

Due to Park's continuous assaults, A sustained injuries requiring more than eight weeks of treatment. During the assaults, A's scalp was peeled off, suffered third-degree burns on his body, and his skin was confirmed to have necrosis.

The couple also pawned A's car at a pawnshop to collect money and forced A to write an IOU for 60 million won, which he never borrowed.

The victim who endured months of torture-level abuse from middle school junior Park Mo (21) and his girlfriend Yoo Mo (23). / Photo by Yonhap News

The case became known after a petitioner, who identified himself as A's second older brother, posted a plea for severe punishment of the perpetrators on the Blue House National Petition Board on July 24.

At that time, the petitioner explained the perpetrators' criminal acts in detail, saying, "My younger brother has scars from being tortured with hot water, a baseball bat, and a golf club," and "The head burns were caused by the perpetrators using a torch to set fire."

He added, "Even though my brother was weak, he crawled to escape, but the perpetrators followed him," and "They tortured him by injuring his head with a torch."

On the 20th of the same month, A's father, Mr. B, appeared on a radio broadcast and described the victim's condition in detail. Mr. B said, "Even after nearly a month of treatment, pus is still flowing from his arms, legs, and head," and "When I first saw my son's terrible condition, I was speechless and couldn't even cry."

He urged for strict punishment, saying, "If those guys (the perpetrators) are released, there is a risk of a second victim," and "They should be punished so severely that they cannot get out of prison."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.