Man in His 40s Who Kept Girlfriend's Body for a Year After Murder Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison Again on Appeal

Strangled Girlfriend of Four Years to Death
Took Out Tens of Millions of Won in Loans Using the Victim’s Name
Bereaved Family: "Impose the Maximum Penalty on the Defendant"

A man in his 40s who murdered his girlfriend and kept her body in a kimchi refrigerator for nearly a year has received a heavy sentence again on appeal.

According to Yonhap News Agency on May 18, the Criminal Division 1 of the Jeonju Branch of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Moonkyung) dismissed both the defendant’s and the prosecutor’s appeals in the appellate trial of Mr. A (41), who was indicted on charges of murder and disposal of a body, and upheld the original sentence of 30 years in prison.

The appellate court stated, “The defendant deposited 15 million won with the court for the victim’s family during the appellate proceedings, but the bereaved family refused to accept it and submitted a consent to return the deposit. Considering the method of the crime in this case and the extent of the damage, this deposit alone does not provide any grounds to reduce the sentence.”

The court continued, “The defendant’s actions were particularly egregious, as he disposed of the body in a refrigerator for 11 months after the murder and pretended the victim was still alive. Taking all these circumstances into account, the original sentence does not appear to be unduly harsh or lenient.”

Mr. A, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend and abandoning the body, is entering Gunsan Branch of Jeonju District Court on September 30th last year for a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review). Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, at the sentencing hearing in January, the first-instance court also rebuked Mr. A, stating, “The defendant insulted and damaged the deceased’s last dignity by leaving the victim’s body in a cold kimchi refrigerator for 11 months,” and sentenced him to 30 years in prison.

Mr. A was indicted on charges of murdering his girlfriend, Ms. B, with whom he had been in a relationship for four years, at a villa in Jochon-dong, Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on October 20, 2024, and disposing of her body in a kimchi refrigerator. He also faces charges of taking out loans totaling approximately 88 million won in Ms. B’s name and using the funds for living expenses.

Even after committing the crime, Mr. A maintained contact with Ms. B’s family using her mobile phone, making it appear as if she was still alive. During the police investigation, he reportedly stated, “I acted out of anger because Ms. B belittled me, saying, ‘Why did you suffer a loss by not investing in stocks as I told you?’”

Since standing trial, Mr. A has consistently pleaded for leniency, stating his intention to reach a settlement with the victim’s family. However, Ms. B’s family has petitioned for the maximum punishment allowed by law.

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