South Korean prosecutors seek death penalty for man accused of killing schoolgirl

South Korean prosecutors have asked the court to sentence 23-year-old Jang Yun-gi to death. He is accused of murdering 17-year-old schoolgirl Lee Chae-won in the city of Gwangju. The Gwangju District Court is due to announce its verdict in the case on September 30, Korea Herald reports.

Details of the charges

According to the prosecution, on May 5, Jang attempted to abduct Lee Chae-won in order to sexually assault her, and then fatally stabbed her as she was returning home. The attack took place at 00:11 on a street in the Gwangsan-gu district.

Prosecutors also said that the defendant stabbed a high school student who heard the girl's screams and rushed to help her. The boy sustained serious injuries. Jang admitted to the charges against him.

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Eight counts

Jang is charged with eight crimes, including murder during an attempted rape, attempted murder, and preparation for murder. The indictment also states that he allegedly raped a foreign woman in her 20s with whom he worked part-time, and secretly filmed underage girls while working as a social service worker.

Representatives of the victim's family called on the court to impose the harshest punishment. Lee Chae-won's family submitted a petition to the court with about 50,000 signatures from individuals and organizations also demanding the death penalty for the defendant.