On April 1, 2025, in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province, a woman in her 30s was stabbed and killed by her ex-husband at the convenience store where she worked part-time. The ex-husband had sexually assaulted her twice in March 2025 and was arrested during a third attempted assault after she reported him to the police. Despite a court-issued injunction prohibiting him from approaching her, he attacked her in revenge, then set fire to the store. He had a prior prison sentence for robbery and injury. Initially sentenced to 45 years in prison, the appellate court increased his sentence to life imprisonment, rejecting the death penalty while emphasizing the severity of revenge crimes.
Country: South Korea
State/Province: Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
City/Region: Siheung City
Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide
Relationship Status: Divorced
Relationship Duration:
Incident Date: April 1, 2025
Relationship Origins:
Relationship Stages:
Contributing Factors:
Red Flags:
Motives:
Relationship Outcomes:
How the relationship or connection began.
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
2025-04-01
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
김복준의 사건속으로 · Original language: English
Man murders ex-wife after sexual assault and arson
Domestic Violence
The case involves a divorced couple where the ex-husband could not let go and escalated from sexual assault to murder and arson as revenge after the victim reported him to police. The offender's prior criminal history and court injunctions highlight a pattern of domestic violence and retaliation.
The offender was arrested on the spot during the third attempted sexual assault. The court issued a temporary injunction prohibiting him from approaching the victim within 100 meters. After the murder and arson, he was sentenced initially to 45 years, later increased to life imprisonment by the appellate court. The prosecution sought the death penalty but it was not imposed due to fairness considerations.
No significant confusion reported; suspect was arrested during the third assault attempt and later convicted.
The couple divorced in 2024. In March 2025, the ex-husband sexually assaulted the victim twice and attempted a third assault, during which he was arrested. Despite a court injunction, he attacked and killed her on April 1, 2025, at her workplace, then set fire to the convenience store. The legal process included a first trial sentencing him to 45 years and an appellate court increasing it to life imprisonment.
High risk due to prior violence, sexual assault, court injunction violation, and escalation to lethal violence and arson.
Early reporting and police intervention during the third assault attempt were critical. Court injunctions alone did not prevent escalation. Revenge motives in domestic violence cases can lead to lethal outcomes. Sentencing reflects societal condemnation of revenge murders.
Repeated sexual assaults after divorce, court injunction prohibiting contact, and prior criminal history were key early signals.
Victim's police report, offender's court injunction violation, and prior convictions helped connect the case.
Police arrest during third assault attempt, court injunction documents, and forensic evidence from stabbing and arson.
Not reported.
Appellate court increased sentence from 45 years to life imprisonment; no death penalty imposed.
Exact motives beyond revenge and offender's psychological state remain unclear.