Lawmakers criticise Jang Yun-gi life sentence at Gwangju court audit, urge top penalty
In short
At a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit of Gwangju courts on Oct. 20, lawmakers criticised the first-instance life sentence given to Jang Yun-gi (장윤기), 23, who is described as the killer of a high-school girl. Committee chair Seo Young-kyo said he should have received the death penalty, and others urged the maximum sentence on appeal. The Gwangju District Court chief said a life term without parole is a matter for legislative policy.
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At a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit of Gwangju High Court and its subordinate courts on Oct. 20, lawmakers questioned the first-instance life sentence given to Jang Yun-gi (장윤기), 23. Outlets describe him as the killer of a high-school girl. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but the first-instance panel sentenced him to life imprisonment. [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]
Kukmin Ilbo reported that Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 13 sentenced Jang on the 30th of last month on charges including rape-murder under the special act on sexual violence. It quoted the presiding judge as saying the real reason for life rather than death was to isolate him permanently from society and have him repent in prison for life. Jang's side appealed shortly before the deadline, the paper said. [ 6 ]
People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun said the panel had ruled that holding Jang permanently without parole would comfort the bereaved family and deter similar crimes, but asked whether a life sentence legally bars parole. CBS NoCut News reported that, under current law, a lifer can become eligible for parole after 20 years, and that Yoon called for a life term without parole or changes to the life-sentence system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Committee chair Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party said Jang should have been sentenced to death and that execution is a separate matter. She also said the Assembly would discuss a life term without parole and asked the courts to give their views. Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party said 100,000 people had signed a petition for severe punishment and asked the appeal court to impose the maximum sentence. Kwak Kyu-taek of the People Power Party said he saw the victim's mother in anguish after the first-instance ruling and questioned whether the family's statements had been reflected in the sentence. [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
Gwangju District Court chief Jang Yong-gi said he understood the family's statements had been adequately made in court. He said a no-parole life sentence in a ruling is declaratory and has no legal force, and, according to CBS NoCut News, that parole is the Justice Ministry's authority. He said introducing a life term without parole should be decided as legislative policy after public input and expert discussion. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Seo also said the courtroom where Jang's trial was held seated only 13 people, making it hard for spectators to follow, and the court chief replied that conditions were poor and a change of courtroom was difficult. Separately, Park Gyun-taek questioned an 11-year sentence in a Sochon-dong regional housing association fraud case, saying it amounted to about one year per 1 billion won. The court chief said the case involved 18.8 billion won taken from 539 members, and that the first-instance ruling covered only 234 members and 7.6 billion won, with the rest not yet ruled on. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The audit put the idea of a life sentence without parole on the legislative agenda: the committee chair said the Assembly would discuss it, while the court chief said it needs public input and expert debate. The lawmakers' remarks were directed at the court that will hear the appeal.
Key facts
- The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee questioned Gwangju High Court and its subordinate courts in an audit on Oct. 20. [ 1 , 3 , 7 ]
- Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Jang Yun-gi, 23, but the first-instance court sentenced him to life imprisonment. [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]
- Seo Young-kyo, the committee chair, said Jang should have been sentenced to death and that execution is a separate matter. [ 1 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- Park Ji-won said 100,000 people had signed a petition for severe punishment and asked the appeal court to impose the maximum sentence. [ 1 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- Gwangju District Court chief Jang Yong-gi said a first-instance ruling of life without parole is declaratory and not legally binding, and that introducing such a sentence is for legislative policy after public and expert discussion. [ 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- Under current law, a lifer can become eligible for parole after 20 years, according to CBS NoCut News and Asia Economy. [ 4 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- At the Oct. 20 audit, People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun said the first-instance panel ruled that holding Jang without parole would comfort the bereaved family and deter similar crimes, but that a life sentence does not legally bar parole. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Committee chair Seo Young-kyo said Jang should have been sentenced to death and that execution is a separate matter. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- Park Ji-won said 100,000 people had signed a petition for severe punishment for Jang and asked that the maximum sentence be imposed on appeal. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Court chief Jang Yong-gi said he understood the bereaved family's statements had been adequately made in court, and that a life term without parole should be decided as legislative policy after public input and expert discussion. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]
- Park Gyun-taek questioned whether an 11-year sentence in a regional housing association fraud case in Sochon-dong was appropriate, saying it amounted to about one year per 1 billion won; the court chief said the first-instance ruling covered only part of the alleged damage, with the rest not yet ruled on. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- Which child-abuse case Seo Young-kyo cited, and the victim's age. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo say she cited the death of a four-month-old, Haeden, caused by abuse by the birth parents; CBS NoCut News says the case was in Haenam and the child was 23 months old. All say a life sentence for the mother was cut to 35 years on appeal.
- How the case moved from police to prosecutors. Only Asia Economy reports Kwak Kyu-taek saying police sent the case as ordinary murder and prosecutors charged rape-murder after supplementary investigation; Kukmin Ilbo quotes him on flaws in the investigation that nearly went unnoticed.
- Whether the appeal court will change the sentence. Kukmin Ilbo says Jang's side appealed shortly before the deadline; documents give no appeal date or outcome.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports lawmakers at the audit questioning Jang Yun-gi's life sentence. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports Park Ji-won, Kwak Kyu-taek, Yoon Sang-hyun and Seo Young-kyo pressing for the maximum sentence on appeal and a no-parole life term. [ 3 ]
- CBS NoCut News reports the court chief saying a no-parole ruling is declaratory with no legal force. [ 4 ]
- Maeil Business reports lawmakers urging the maximum sentence on appeal and the court chief saying legislation should decide. [ 10 ]