"Because We're Close, I Tormented You"…Gaslighting Evidence in the 'Valley Murder' Case

"Struggling with being ignored" victim unable to escape
Expert: "Difficult to establish as gaslighting crime"
"Reconsideration needed to recognize long-term, repetitive gaslighting crimes"

Suspects Lee Eun-hae and Jo Hyun-soo in the 'Valley Murder' case are entering the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu, Incheon City on the afternoon of the 19th to attend the pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] The suspects in the 'Valley Murder' case, Lee Eun-hae and Jo Hyun-soo, are accused of forcing Lee's husband and victim, Yoon Mo, to dive, which led to his death. Experts suggest that despite Yoon not being able to swim and having a certain level of annual salary, the reason he was driven to financial hardship before his death may be due to gaslighting (psychological manipulation) by Lee.

On the 22nd, SBS released phone call recordings between Lee and Yoon, as well as text messages Yoon sent to Jo. According to these, there are multiple indications that Lee continuously made statements to make Yoon feel guilty himself.

In January 2019, Yoon sent messages to Jo, Lee's lover, expressing his pain from being ignored by Lee, saying things like "I want to be respected by Eun-hae" and "It's so hard to be ignored and hear harsh words." This shows that Yoon was being gaslighted by Lee. Gaslighting refers to psychological abuse where the victim's mind or situation is manipulated to make them doubt themselves and strengthen the abuser's control, typically occurring in intimate relationships such as between lovers or friends.

Yoon was also bullied by Lee, including having his hair grabbed at gatherings with acquaintances. When Yoon brought this up, Lee responded in a call, "You know me, when I drink, I treat the person I think is closest the worst or bully them." Lee also said, "I didn't act that way because I was ignoring oppa (older brother), I just am like that," justifying her behavior and avoiding responsibility. Acts done under the pretense of caring for the victim are typical characteristics of gaslighting, making it difficult for the victim to recognize they are being abused.

Suspect Lee Eun-hae (31) in the 'Valley Murder' case is being escorted to the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Yoon's family, Yoon was a former researcher at a large corporation earning a certain level of salary but experienced severe financial hardship after marrying Lee, even filing for personal rehabilitation. After registering their marriage in March 2017 and setting up a newlywed home in Incheon, only Lee lived there, while Yoon lived in a semi-basement rental room near his workplace in Suwon.

Experts analyze that Lee used the intimate relationship to completely control Yoon economically and psychologically. Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University explained in an interview with KBS Radio, "Lee maliciously used Yoon and monitored his every move like surveillance. She kept talking as if she would give love but never maintained a relationship corresponding to a married couple."

She added, "Using devoted affection, she ultimately applied various types of psychological pressure that can also be called gaslighting on Yoon. From the perspective of people capable of rational judgment and free decision-making, it may be hard to understand why the victim couldn't escape, but after being in dangerous situations multiple times, it eventually led to loss of life."

Although the severity of gaslighting has increased to the point of causing death, the act of gaslighting itself is difficult to establish as a criminal offense. Since no direct physical assault or harm was inflicted on the victim, there is no basis to consider it an illegal act.

Lee Eun's lawyer (Lee Eun's Law Office) said, "Gaslighting is based on a loving relationship, and affection for understanding or liking the other person acts as power. If violence or threats were not used, it is difficult to definitively classify gaslighting as a crime."

However, the lawyer suggested that standards should be established to regulate gaslighting as it can lead to serious criminal acts. The lawyer emphasized, "Even if it is difficult to prosecute as a crime, if objective acts or abuse considered gaslighting occur over a long period in an intimate relationship, there is a need to reconsider recognizing it as a civil illegal act."

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