A series of horrendous murder cases involving family members and lovers has gained media attention lately, underlining the grave dangers some women in this country face even in their own homes.
The Deungchon-dong stabbing is a case in point. A man in his late 40s was arrested last week as a homicide suspect in the death of his ex-wife. He reportedly stabbed her multiple times in the parking lot of an apartment building. According to news reports, he physically assaulted the deceased and their three daughters for 20 years and continued to harass them even after their divorce.
In another case, a man in his early 30s killed his ex-girlfriend and her family in their home before committing suicide. Last year alone, 85 women were killed by either their husbands or boyfriends.
Regarding the Deungchon-dong case, it is also shocking that the daughters of the man pleaded for their own father's execution on Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site. They said their father was “a heinous criminal who must forever be isolated from society” and that he deserved the death penalty to prevent future victims. They feared they will become his target if he is released from prison. He reportedly boasted to them that he could get out in six months even after killing their mother given his record of depression.
The deceased moved six times in the last four years and got a restraining order, but this was not enough to keep her ex-husband away. There is only a small fine if one defies the order. It is time to fix the loopholes in the relevant laws and enforce stronger punishment for people who commit domestic violence.