The family of a high school girl fatally stabbed while walking home at night has publicly disclosed the victim's name and face, calling for severe punishment of the assailant.
The parents of the late Lee Chae-won, 17, released a portrait of their daughter on Wednesday and said, "After losing a child who dreamed of a career saving lives and loved helping others, our family's life has completely collapsed." They added, "We are issuing this statement in the hope of resolving Chae-won's grievance and ensuring that no other victim suffers the same fate."
Of the suspect, Jang Yun-gi, 23, the family said he is "a criminal who deserves not the slightest sympathy," stressing, "We hope the judiciary will demonstrate that justice is alive through stern punishment." They continued, "Any unjust reduction of his sentence during trial would be tantamount to a second murder of the deceased and her bereaved family," urging the court to impose the maximum legal sentence and calling on citizens to join a petition campaign for severe punishment.
The bereaved family also requested psychological care for Lee's friends and teachers, as well as expanded safety infrastructure around the crime scene. "LED street lights, high-definition CCTV, and emergency safety bells should be expanded, and patrols during students' after-school hours should be strengthened," they said. "We hope Chae-won's sacrifice will become an occasion to improve the safety net for youth."
Lee was stabbed to death on a street in Wolgye-dong, Gwangju, on the 5th of last month by a knife wielded by Jang. According to police, Jang had initially targeted a female part-time co-worker who had rejected his romantic advances, and after failing to attack her, committed the crime as an act of frustration without selecting a specific target.
Civic groups, including the Gwangju-Jeonnam Memorial Solidarity, plan to hold the 49th-day memorial rite for Lee together with the bereaved family on the 22nd of this month.
