Gwangju Murder Scandal
Gwangju Murder Suspect Admits Sexual Motive, Faces Upgraded Charges Amid Police Probe
Anonymous
Key Points
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Before the murder of Lee Chae-won, investigators say Jang abducted and held a 26-year-old foreign coworker for about 13 hours, during which she was raped and stalked.
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A police officer from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station involved in the investigation has been arrested on charges of evidence destruction, with the probe expanding to higher-ranking officials.
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During the second hearing, Jang's defense stated, 'I admit all the charges,' and Jang himself replied 'Yes' when asked if he agreed with the defense's statement.
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Prosecutors upgraded the case to include murder for the purpose of rape and related sexual-violence offenses, consistent with charges under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.
Jang Yoon-gi, 23, has admitted in court that he murdered a 17-year-old girl in Gwangju with the intent to rape her — the first time he has explicitly acknowledged a sexual motive, according to Korea Herald. His defense attorney told the court, 'I admit all the charges,' and when asked if he agreed, Jang replied, 'Yes.'
The victim, Lee Chae-won, was stabbed to death near a university in Gwangju. Korea JoongAng Daily reports that Jang followed her for about 15 minutes before the attack. A 16-year-old boy who tried to intervene was also stabbed.
From 'Impulsive Act' to Murder With Sexual Intent
Jang had previously described the killing as impulsive. That changed during the second court hearing in Gwangju. Korea Herald reports this is the first time he admitted the attack was planned as a sexual assault. Prosecutors have now upgraded the charges to murder for the purpose of rape under South Korea's Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.
The upgraded charges cover multiple offenses: murder, rape, attempted murder, and hidden-camera and secret-filming allegations. The filming charges are tied to his work as a social worker, according to Seoul Economic Daily.
Evidence Includes Sex Doll, Cable Tie, and Dashcam Footage
Prosecutors presented physical and digital evidence during the hearings. Items found in Jang's vehicle included a sex doll and a cable tie. Dashcam footage and forensic reports were also submitted, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Some evidence was reviewed behind closed doors because of how graphic the content was.
Foreign Coworker Held 13 Hours Before the Murder
The Lee Chae-won case was not Jang's first alleged attack. Investigators say he abducted a 26-year-old foreign coworker before the murder. He reportedly held her for about 13 hours, raping and stalking her during that time. That incident is now part of the broader charges against him.
Korea Herald notes that Jang also faces secret-filming allegations connected to his role as a social worker. The full scope of his alleged crimes spans at least three separate victims across multiple incidents.
Police Officer Arrested for Destroying Evidence in Case
The case has also exposed serious concerns about police conduct. A police officer from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station has been arrested on charges of evidence destruction, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Investigators are now probing whether higher-ranking officials were also involved.
The officer is reportedly a family member of someone connected to the case. The probe has expanded beyond the original arrest. Authorities are looking into whether the destruction of evidence was part of a broader cover-up attempt.
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