Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Assault and Murder on Hiking Trail

Choi Yun-jong, the man convicted of sexually assaulting and killing a woman on a hiking trail in Seoul, has been sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court upheld the original sentence, rejecting Choi’s appeal. Choi was found guilty of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (aggravated murder) by attacking and killing the victim on a hiking trail in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, in August 2022. The court also imposed a 30-year order restricting Choi’s location, a 10-year ban on information disclosure, and a 10-year ban on employment in organizations related to children, adolescents, and disabled individuals. The court reasoned that Choi’s actions posed a high risk of re-offending and justified the severe punishment. The victim, a primary school teacher, was attacked while on a hiking trail for a school-related activity. The attack caused her severe injuries, and she died two days later despite receiving medical treatment.