Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Gwangju schoolgirl murder suspect admits rape-murder charge
Jang Yoon-gi, center, a suspect in the murder of a high school student and an assault with a weapon on another student, stands in front of Gwangju Seobu Police Station, May 14. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
Jang Yoon-gi, the 23-year-old suspected of killing a high school girl in Gwangju, admitted to all charges against him on Monday, including the full rape-murder charge.
During a trial in Gwangju, Jang, who was indicted last month on charges of stabbing and killing the 16-year-old girl in the southwestern city in May after following her with intent to rape, told the court “I admit all the charges.”
During a previous hearing on June 22, Jang had admitted to the murder charges, but said he would clarify his position on the rape-murder charges at the next trial.
He also faces charges of attacking another student with a knife when that person tried to intervene.
The case made headlines not only for its brutality but also for an alleged cover-up attempt by police, fueled by the fact that the suspect's father is a police officer.