Why did prosecutors seek the death penalty for Jang Yoon-gi in Gwangju?

The Gwangju District Prosecutors Office said he poses a high risk of repeat offenses, including murder and sexual assault, if released. They sought the sentence during his trial over the killing of Lee Chae-won.

What crimes is Jang Yoon-gi accused of in the Gwangju murder case?

He is charged with killing 16-year-old Lee Chae-won on May 5 after trying to rape her. He also faces charges of attempting to kill a 17-year-old male student, raping a Vietnamese woman two days earlier, and illegally filming a teenage girl’s body.

When is the sentencing hearing in the Gwangju murder trial scheduled?

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30. It comes after prosecutors demanded the death penalty during the trial of Jang Yoon-gi.

Prosecutors seek death penalty for Gwangju murder suspect

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Summary

Prosecutors on Monday sought the death penalty in Gwangju for 23-year-old Jang Yoon-gi, who is accused of killing high school student Lee Chae-won in May. The Gwangju District Prosecutors Office said he poses a high risk of repeat offenses. Jang also faces charges tied to an attempted killing, a rape case involving a Vietnamese woman, and illegally filming a teenage girl. His sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 30.

Key Facts

Jang Yoon-gi is 23 years old and was charged with killing 16-year-old Lee Chae-won on a street in Gwangju on May 5 after trying to rape her.
Prosecutors said Jang poses a high risk of recidivism, including murder and sexual assault, if he returns to society.
He was also charged with attempting to kill a 17-year-old male student who rushed to help the victim.
The prosecution said Jang had raped a Vietnamese woman two days earlier and illegally filmed a teenage girl’s body in the past.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 31, 2026 8:18 pm KST

Jang Yoon-gi is surrounded by police officers and reporters at Gwangju Seobu Police Station in Gwangju, May 14. Newsis

Prosecutors on Monday sought the death penalty for a man accused of murdering a female high school student in the southwestern city of Gwangju in May, citing a high risk of repeat offenses.

The Gwangju District Prosecutors Office demanded the sentence during the trial of 23-year-old Jang Yoon-gi, who was charged with killing 16-year-old Lee Chae-won on a street in Gwangju on May 5 after trying to rape her.

Jang was also charged with attempting to kill a 17-year-old male student who had rushed to the scene to help the victim, raping a Vietnamese woman two days earlier and illegally filming a teenage girl's body in the past.

"He poses a high risk of recidivism, including murder and sexual assault, in the event he returns to society," the prosecution said.

Jang apologized to the victims in his final statement, saying he will pay for his crimes for the rest of his life.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled to be held Sept. 30.

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