The Wife's Last Words Before Dying from Her Husband's Swing of a 'Nihonto' Sword: "What Will Happen to Our Children?"

by Heo Midam

Published 06 Sep.2021 16:12(KST)

40-Year-Old Man Arrested for Killing Wife with Japanese Sword in Front of Father-in-Law

Photo by Online Community 'Nate Pann' Screen Capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A man in his 40s, accused of killing his wife with a Japanese sword (janggeom) in front of his father-in-law during a divorce lawsuit, has been arrested, sparking outrage as claims have emerged that the deceased victim had been suffering from domestic violence.

On the 5th, an online community Nate Pann posted a message titled "I am a friend of the wife killed by a Japanese sword (janggeom). Please help."

The writer, who introduced themselves as a close friend of the deceased victim A since high school, appealed, "I can't believe such a thing happened to a friend I recently met. Someone please help."

According to the writer, A was the first among their high school friends to get married and had lost contact for five years before reconnecting last year. The writer stated, "(A) said she had been going through a lot. She suffered domestic violence, and her husband installed a voice recorder in the living room, master bedroom, and children's room through a location tracking app, monitored recordings from the car's black box, and prevented her from meeting anyone. If she disobeyed, he used violence even in front of the children," adding, "When I asked why she endured it alone for so long, she said he prevented her from contacting family and friends."

They continued, "After a quarrel at the end of April, her husband B apparently threatened A again that day, strangling her in front of the children. He repeatedly took out the Japanese sword (janggeom) to threaten her, saying he would kill her," and "She was so scared that even when she put it away, he would find it and leave it on the bed."

Later, A left the house with her children to escape B but reportedly suffered financial difficulties. During this time, B contacted the children to "bring their clothes," and A went to B's house with her children and her father to pack their belongings, where the incident occurred.

The writer said, "(A) was scared, so she went to the house with her father, but they couldn't enter because the password had been changed. When they called B to ask for the password, he said, 'I will come by 2 o'clock, so wait,' and they met. The accident happened within 2 to 3 minutes after A entered the house."

According to the writer, while A was packing the children's clothes, B told her to "withdraw the divorce lawsuit," and when A refused, he said "Die" and took the Japanese sword (janggeom) from the master bedroom.

A shouted to her father, "Save me," but B stabbed A in the stomach as she tried to escape. When A's father tried to intervene, B slashed A's face and arm.

Afterward, A's father subdued B and shouted at A to "run away," but A, having lost too much blood, could not even open the front door.

Before A passed away, her father said, "I reported it, but I don't think I can save you. If you have anything to say, say it," and A reportedly said, "What about our children," but could not continue speaking.

Regarding this, the writer stated, "The claim that he reported himself surrendering is a lie," adding, "The neighbors reported first, and then A's father reported again."

Furthermore, the writer appealed, "The victim's father is said to be shedding tears continuously, blaming himself for not protecting his child," and "Please help so that the perpetrator pays the rightful price."

Earlier, on the 4th around 2 p.m., B killed A by swinging a Japanese sword (janggeom) over 1 meter long multiple times during an argument at their home in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where A had come to get her belongings. It was investigated that B and A had been living separately since May and were engaged in a divorce lawsuit.