Supreme Court Finalizes 20-Year Sentence for 'Busan Roundhouse Kick' Perpetrator... "Sentence Was Significantly Reduced" (Comprehensive)

The perpetrator of the so-called "Busan Roundhouse Kick" case, in which a woman in her 20s was brutally assaulted on her way home, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the sentence now finalized.

The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Seo Kyunghwan) on September 21 upheld the lower court's ruling, confirming a 20-year prison sentence for Lee, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (attempted rape and murder).

Defendant Lee Mo in the roundhouse kick incident
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The court stated, "There was no violation of the defendant's right to defense in the procedure for permitting changes to the indictment at the lower court," and added, "It cannot be said that sentencing the defendant to 20 years in prison is grossly unjust."

Lee was indicted for following a victim returning home in Seomyeon, Busanjingu, at around 5 a.m. on May 22 last year, and then attempting to kill her by assaulting her in the shared entrance of an officetel. Initially, Lee was charged with attempted murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first trial. However, during the appeal, prosecutors found additional evidence, including Lee's DNA on the victim's jeans from the time of the incident, and amended the indictment to attempted rape and murder. The appellate court recognized Lee's charges, sentencing him to 20 years in prison, and also ordered 10 years of public disclosure of personal information, a 10-year ban on employment at institutions related to children and adolescents, 20 years of electronic monitoring, and 80 hours of sexual violence education. After this case became widely known, it sparked public debate about reforms to the disclosure of personal information system and the right of victims to appeal.

Meanwhile, immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, the victim told reporters, "I believe the sentence was significantly reduced. If anything, it is too lenient, and I absolutely do not think it is excessive." She added, "Victims are in a position where they cannot speak out about their discomfort," and continued, "I will continue to raise issues regarding the inadequate initial investigation and the difficulties victims face in accessing information."

Regarding the prosecution's findings that Choi Yoonjong, the suspect in the 'mountain trail sexual assault and murder case,' was inspired to commit his crime after seeing coverage of this incident, she said, "It is not due to sensational reporting, but rather because of lenient sentencing standards," and added, "I believe eliminating these lenient sentencing standards is the most effective prevention measure."

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