Mother of Lee Chae-won Calls for Death Penalty for Jang Yoon-ki, One Day Before First-Instance Ruling

"Answer the murderer Jang Yoon-ki with the death penalty." On the afternoon of the 29th, the mother of the late Lee Chae-won stood alone holding a sign outside the Gwangju District Court. Arguing that life imprisonment—a sentence under which the convict may be released on parole if certain conditions are met—is not enough, she appealed to the court to impose the death penalty so that Jang can never return to society. The bereaved family also raised their voices, demanding, "Hold him strictly accountable for this premeditated and brutal crime and restore social justice."

Meanwhile, a petition bearing 99,342 signatures calling for the maximum punishment for Jang Yoon-ki was submitted to the court on the 28th. The petition contained an appeal: "Please make it so that students no longer have to be afraid walking down the street on dark nights."

Jang Yoon-ki is currently on trial in detention on charges including rape and murder. At the closing hearing on the 31st of last month, prosecutors sought the death penalty, the heaviest sentence under the law. Admitting all the charges, Jang stated, "I committed a crime that should never have been committed. I sincerely apologize to the victim and her family, and I will atone for it for the rest of my life," submitting letters of reflection on three occasions.

The first-instance verdict hearing for Jang will be held at 2 p.m. on the 30th at the Gwangju District Court's 13th Criminal Division, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Jung-ho.