Presidential Office Senior Director Jeon Offers Condolences to Gwangju High School Murder Victim's Family: "Sorry We Could Not Protect You"

Bereaved Family of the High School Student Weeps Throughout the Meeting
Responds to Calls for “Severe Punishment” with a “Firm Promise”

Sung-Hwan Jeon, Chief of Kyungcheong Integration, is entering the Yongsan Presidential Office press briefing room on the 18th for a briefing on the recruitment of the Youth Officer. 2025.8.18 Yonhap News Agency.

Jeon Seonghwan, Senior Director of Listening Integration at the Presidential Office, announced on the 12th that he had offered his condolences to the bereaved family and injured victims of the 'Gwangju High School Student Murder Case' and visited the site commemorating the victims of the crime.

Jeon visited the home of the bereaved family of the deceased student and conveyed an apology on behalf of the nation, saying, "I am sorry that we could not protect you." The bereaved family shed tears throughout the meeting and asked, "Please make sure this never happens again." The family also called for severe punishment of the suspect, to which Jeon responded with a firm promise, according to the Presidential Office. Additionally, Jeon personally embraced the victim's younger brother and encouraged him to live his life to the fullest, even for his late sister.

Jeon then visited the student who was hospitalized with serious injuries after trying to save the victim during the incident. Praising the student's courage in restraining the perpetrator, Jeon said, "It is truly remarkable and admirable," and added, "I heard your dream is to become a police officer; you are exactly the kind of talent that should be specially recruited." Earlier, on the 11th, the police had sent an official letter to the local government recommending the student for recognition as a righteous person for their courageous actions. Jeon also asked hospital staff to do their utmost to ensure the injured student makes a full recovery.

Finally, Jeon visited the site set up for the commemoration of the victim in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, where he tied a yellow ribbon and expressed his deep condolences. During this visit, local residents requested, "The greatest pain for the family is being forgotten, so please make this a permanent memorial space." Jeon also encouraged the police officers on the scene, emphasizing, "Although it may be difficult on the ground, please listen even more attentively to the stories of the bereaved family and victims, and do your utmost to establish measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring."

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