'Sindang Station Murder' Jeon Juhwan Trial Open to Public… Court Warns "Caution in Reporting Victims' Privacy"

Suspect Jeon Juhwan in the 'Sindang Station Stalking Murder' case is being transferred from the Namdaemun Police Station detention center in Jung-gu, Seoul to the prosecution on the 21st. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The trial of Jeon Juhwan (31, male), who was charged with murdering a station attendant at Sindang Station after stalking him, will be held as a public trial. However, the court explained that if reports and comments based on speculation continue, it may restrict arguments to protect the victim's privacy.

On the afternoon of the 18th, the Criminal Division 25-1 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Park Jeonggil, Park Jeongje, Park Sarang) announced at the first preparatory hearing for Jeon Juhwan, who was indicted on charges including retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, that the case will proceed as a "public trial."

The court stated, "The prosecution and the victim's side requested a closed trial to protect the victim's privacy and prevent secondary damage. While there is considerable sympathy for this, it is difficult to see sufficient grounds for a closed trial in light of the principle of public trials." However, it emphasized, "If questions and arguments related to the victim's private life that are irrelevant to the trial process, as well as reports and comments based on speculation, continue, the court may restrict arguments or take additional measures within a certain scope."

Unlike formal trials, defendants are not required to attend preparatory hearings, but Jeon Juhwan appeared in court wearing a green prison uniform. Having submitted three letters of apology by the previous day and an opinion statement acknowledging the charges, Jeon’s side stated they would only submit additional "sentencing materials."

The court concluded the preparatory hearing and scheduled the first trial date for the 22nd of next month. The court plans to provide the victim’s family with an opportunity to testify during future trial dates.

On the 6th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office investigation team (led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sumin) arrested and indicted Jeon Juhwan on charges including retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, violation of the Information and Communications Network Act, violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and trespassing. They also requested an electronic location tracking device order. This was 15 days after the police transferred the case on the 21st of last month.

According to the prosecution, Jeon Juhwan decided to kill the victim after learning that the sentencing date for the stalking case, for which the victim had reported him, was set and a prison sentence was expected, thinking "everything I have built so far will collapse."

The prosecution believes that from August 18, when the sentencing hearing for the stalking case was held, until the day of the crime, Jeon meticulously prepared by visiting the subway station office four times to check the victim’s address and work information.

Jeon secretly entered the victim’s residential building to wait during the victim’s daytime work leaving time but failed to commit the crime as the victim had already moved elsewhere. Eventually, Jeon went to Sindang Station, the victim’s workplace, and stabbed the victim to death with a weapon in the women’s restroom there.

On the 29th of last month, at the Seoul Western District Court, Jeon was sentenced to nine years in prison for stalking and illegal filming charges. He has appealed the first trial verdict.

Meanwhile, at the memorial space set up at Sindang Station, citizens continue to visit to pray for the victim’s repose and offer condolences.

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