Prosecution Seeks Death Penalty for Choi Yoon-jong in 'Hiking Trail Murder' Case, Citing High Risk of Recidivism

The prosecution has sought the death penalty for Choi Yoon-jong (30), who murdered a woman he did not know in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

Choi Yoon-jong, accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman on a hiking trail in Sillim-dong, was transferred to the prosecution at the Gwanak Police Station in Seoul on August 25. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the 11th, at the sentencing hearing of Choi Yoon-jong held by the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Jin-ah), the prosecution requested, "Considering that he shows no remorse at all and poses a high risk of reoffending if released back into society, and taking into account the irreversible damage suffered by the victim's family, we ask that Choi Yoon-jong be sentenced to death."

The prosecution emphasized, "This case involves the defendant sexually assaulting and murdering a stranger on a hiking trail in a city park during the daytime. It is necessary to impose a corresponding punishment so that the perception that those who commit such crimes cannot escape the severest penalties becomes widespread."

Choi Yoon-jong was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting victim A on the Mokgolsan hiking trail connected to Gwanaksan Ecological Park in Sillim-dong on August 17, brutally beating her with a fist wearing a metal knuckle, and strangling her to death for at least three minutes. Victim A was left at the scene for about 20 minutes before being transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and died two days later from hypoxic brain injury.

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