Man in His 50s Who Murdered TikToker in Her 20s and Abandoned Body Dies in Prison Ahead of Appeal Trial

Death While Detained at Anyang Prison
Case Expected to Be Dismissed After Defendant Dies During Trial

A man in his 50s, who had been sentenced to a heavy prison term in the first trial for murdering a TikToker in her 20s and abandoning her body, died while in prison.

According to Yonhap News on May 20, Mr. A, who had been indicted and detained at Anyang Prison on charges including murder, abandonment of a body, and obstruction of official duties, attempted suicide at around 2:20 a.m. that day. He was transferred to a hospital by prison staff, but died around 3:00 a.m. on the same day.

Mr. A was put on trial for killing Ms. B, a female TikToker in her 20s, on September 11 last year in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, and abandoning her body in a mountain in Muju County, North Jeolla Province. Investigations revealed that in May of the same year, he had approached Ms. B, claiming to be well-versed in the TikTok market, and proposed a partnership and investment. The crime was committed following conflicts over channel management issues.

During the first trial, Mr. A argued that there was no intent to kill and claimed it was involuntary manslaughter, but the court rejected this defense and sentenced him to 40 years in prison. The court stated at the time, "A human life is an absolute value that can never be exchanged for anything," and emphasized, "Murder, whether impulsive or not, can never be justified under any circumstances."

The court further explained its sentencing, saying, "The defendant transported the victim's body to Muju, North Jeolla Province, and denied the crime until the body was discovered, contesting the intent to kill up to the verdict. The victim's family, who lost a loved one who never had the chance to realize her dreams at such a young age, continues to suffer from pain, trauma, and guilt that are difficult to heal."

Both the prosecution and the defendant appealed, claiming the sentence was unjust. The first hearing for the appeal was scheduled to take place at 3:20 p.m. on May 21 at the Suwon High Court. However, as the defendant died during the appeal process, it is expected that the case will be dismissed in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act.

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