Alleged Gwangju killer admits to murder with intent to commit rape
At a court hearing, the 23-year-old defendant reversed his earlier claim and acknowledged charges that he tried to rape and killed a high school student.
Jang Yun-gi, who killed a high school student in the center of Gwangju, is forwarded to prosecutors on May 14.NEWS1
Jang Yun-gi, the man accused of killing a high school girl whom he did not know in Gwangju, admitted Monday that he intended to rape the victim before killing her, rescinding his previous statement.
The admission was made during the second trial hearing at the Gwangju District Court, where 23-year-old Jang acknowledged all the charges brought by the prosecution.
Asked whether he agreed with his court-appointed lawyer's statement admitting all the charges, Jang replied, "Yes."
His lawyer alsotold the court, "We admit all of the charges."
Jang had previously claimed that he intended to take his own life and tried to take someone with him, arguing that the killing was not motivated by sexual assault.
On Friday, Jang submitted a written statement to the court acknowledging his intent to commit a sexual offense.
Prosecutors said they would submit additional evidence, including forensic inspection footage from Jang's vehicle showing cable ties and a forensic report on a damaged life-size sex doll found in his studio.
A memorial gathering for the victim of Jang Yun-gi's murder urges severe punishment of the case in front of the Gwangju District Court on July 13.YONHAP
Jang was indicted on charges of attempting to abduct a 16-year-old high school student with the intent to rape her before fatally stabbing her on a secluded pedestrian path in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan District, Gwangju, at about 12:10 a.m. on May 5.
He is also accused of attacking a 17-year-old high school student who tried to help the victim at the scene, as well as stalking and sexually assaulting a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman who had worked with him.
The case has drawn widespread attention after prosecutors uncovered allegations that Jang's father, a mid-ranking police officer, destroyed evidence and leaked confidential investigative information during a supplementary investigation.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
