'Jeju Middle School Student Murderers' Baek Gwangseok and Kim Sinam Sentenced to 30 and 27 Years in Prison Confirmed

From the left, Baek Gwang-seok, Kim Si-nam / Photo by Jeju Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Baek Gwangseok (49) and Kim Sinam (47), who were indicted for killing the middle school son of a woman they previously cohabited with, have each been sentenced to 30 years and 27 years in prison by the Supreme Court.

On the 28th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Lee Dongwon) dismissed their appeals against charges of murder and violation of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts (joint trespassing), thereby upholding the lower court rulings. They were also ordered to wear electronic monitoring devices (electronic anklets) for 10 years.

Earlier, the two were prosecuted for breaking into a house in Jeju City on July 18 last year and strangling middle school student A with a belt. Investigations revealed that they conducted a "preliminary reconnaissance" over two days before the crime. During the trial, they admitted most of the prosecution's allegations but denied directly killing the victim, shifting responsibility onto each other.

The first trial court found that Baek Gwangseok and Kim Sinam conspired in advance with the intent to kill and sentenced them to 30 years and 27 years in prison, respectively.

The second trial court stated, "It does not appear that they had a definite intent to kill the victim beforehand, and it seems the crime occurred impulsively during the subduing process with only indirect intent." Nevertheless, it maintained the sentence, judging that "the punishment imposed by the first trial court is appropriate."

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