This Korean True Crime Fan Killed Someone Out of Curiosity

What drives someone to commit a heinous act like murder? For one Korean true crime fan, it was curiosity that led her down a dark path. In a shocking turn of events, this individual ended up taking a life simply to satisfy her morbid fascination with crime. The world of true crime is filled with disturbing stories and gruesome details that can capture the attention of even the most innocent of minds. For some, however, the obsession with true crime can veer into dangerous territory, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Here is how that affected this true crime fan.

The Korean True Crime Fan Who Murdered Someone Out of Curiosity

Jung Yoo-Jung, a 23-year-old from South Korea, has garnered attention for her interest in true crime. She also has an alleged fixation on the idea of murdering out of curiosity. According to prosecutors, earlier last year, Jung spent several months using an app to search for an English tutor. She reached out to over 50 individuals in the process.

In a disturbing turn of events, the 23-year-old, showing a preference for female tutors, contacted them to inquire about conducting lessons at their homes. In May 2023, Jung, masquerading as a mother seeking a tutor for her daughter, contacted a 26-year-old woman offering lessons in Busan. She then arrived at the tutor’s residence disguised as a schoolgirl and brutally murdered her. Reports suggest Jung stabbed the victim over 100 times, even continuing the assault post-mortem.

Following the gruesome act, Jung dismembered the victim’s body, packed it into a suitcase, and hailed a taxi to a remote parkland near a river north of Busan to dispose of the remains. However, the observant taxi driver noticed the blood-soaked suitcase and promptly alerted the authorities

The Punishment That Followed

Jung, who was arrested for the murder, has now been sentenced to life in prison as of November 24, 2023. She confessed to her crimes in June, with authorities describing her as “obsessed” with true crime. A police spokesperson revealed that Jung had premeditated the crime, driven by her fascination with murder depicted in TV programs and books. Despite the life sentence, prosecutors are reportedly seeking the death penalty.

The Death Penalty in South Korea

South Korea’s last execution was in 1997, and the most recent death sentence was handed down in 2018. As of March this year, there were 59 inmates awaiting execution in South Korean prisons. Despite a failed attempt to abolish the death penalty through a bill in 2015, there have been ongoing campaigns for its abolition. In March 2023, the Human Rights Society wrote a letter to President Yoon Suk-yeol advocating for the abolition of capital punishment.

In a letter to President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Human Rights Society emphasized that South Korea’s use of the death penalty violates international human rights standards, including the right to life. The letter highlighted concerns about the 59 individuals currently on death row, including Won Eon-shik, who has been awaiting execution for nearly 30 years. South Korea is among the 55 countries that still maintain and enforce the death penalty. The outcome regarding calls for Jung to be sentenced to death remains uncertain.

What’s your take on the whole situation with the death penalty and Jung’s life sentence in South Korea? Let us know in the comments!

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