Child rapist sentenced to life imprisonment

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the life sentence for an infamous child rapist.

Kim Kil-tae, 34, was prosecuted in February last year for kidnapping, raping and killing a 13-year-old middle school student who was alone in her home in the southern port city of Busan.

He was also charged with abducting and raping another woman, who was walking on the street, and stealing money and other valuables from a beauty shop while he was on the run.

He had been sentenced to death in June last year. But the Busan High Court commuted his sentence to life imprisonment in December, saying that his murder did not appear to be premeditated and a death sentence should be given only in limited circumstances.

Kim and other repeat sex offenders' cases garnered much social attention last year, prompting the government to consider introducing hormonal treatment, or "chemical castration," for convicted pedophiles. (Yonhap)