Mother Who Lost Daughter to Dating Violence Gains 50,000 Signatures on National Petition ... "Perpetrator Still in 20s Even After Serving Prison Sentence"

As the first trial for the 'Geoje Ex-Girlfriend Assault Death Case' approaches, a national petition posted by the victim's parents has received support from around 50,000 people.

The victim's mother, identified as A, posted a petition titled 'Request for System Improvement Regarding Dating Violence' on the National Assembly's petition board on the 14th.

A petition posted by the victim's family on the National Assembly's Public Consent Petition Board in South Korea received over 50,000 endorsements.
[Screen source=National Assembly Public Consent Petition]

Mother A wrote, "The robust perpetrator in his twenties drank alcohol, ran into my daughter's room, opened the door without consent, climbed on top of my daughter who was sleeping defenseless, and brutally assaulted her."

She claimed, "While we were at the emergency room, the perpetrator slept peacefully at the victim's house. After my daughter died on the 10th, he was released from emergency detention on the 11th, and on the 13th, he was out drinking with friends, saying things like, 'I broke up with my girlfriend. I'll study, get into a better university, and meet a better girlfriend.' He showed no remorse at all."

She added, "Even during the three days of the funeral, there was no condolence visit or even a phone call to ask for forgiveness."

A said, "My youngest child, who is in adolescence, hardly comes home because seeing his sister's room reminds him of her. The perpetrator knows our home address, and our family is so mentally and physically exhausted that we had no choice but to move."

She emphasized, "Although I want to pour out my anger on the perpetrator right now, when I look at my remaining children, I want him to face the full judgment of the law. There must not be a second or third victim. No other family should suffer as we have."

Victims' parents are urging strict punishment by applying murder charges against the perpetrator in front of the Tongyeong Branch of Changwon District Court, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

She continued, "The perpetrator has only been indicted for bodily injury resulting in death, trespassing, and stalking. Even after causing a death, the sentence is only three years or more in prison, so even after serving his time, the perpetrator will still be in his twenties."

She appealed for attention so that the perpetrator receives appropriate punishment and sets a precedent, and to prevent further victims, calling for: ▲a complete overhaul of the dating violence investigation manual ▲harsher sentencing for assault, injury resulting in death, and stalking by acquaintances among family and couples ▲the enactment of a law specifically punishing dating violence.

As of 2 p.m. on the 18th, the petition had received support from 50,088 people and will be forwarded to the relevant committee of the National Assembly.

The suspect in this case, a man in his twenties identified as B, was brought to trial on charges of breaking into the studio apartment of his ex-girlfriend, also in her twenties and identified as C, around 8 a.m. on the 1st of last month, and assaulting her by repeatedly striking her head and face and choking her while she was sleeping, resulting in her death during hospital treatment.

C suffered serious injuries from B's assault, including a diagnosis of six weeks' recovery for traumatic subdural hemorrhage. While receiving inpatient treatment, she passed away on the 10th due to multiple organ failure caused by sepsis.

Previously, the National Forensic Service had initially given a verbal opinion that C's cause of death was not assault, but after a detailed autopsy requested by the police, concluded that it was highly likely she died from complications due to head injuries.

The first trial for this case is scheduled to be held on the 20th at the Tongyeong Branch of the Changwon District Court.

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