South Korean man sentenced to 30 years for murder and body concealment

The Supreme Court of Korea has finalized a 30-year prison sentence for a man in his 40s who murdered his girlfriend and concealed her body in a kimchi refrigerator for approximately 11 months in Gunsan.

Following the murder in October 2023, the perpetrator used the victim's phone to send text messages to her family, creating the illusion that she was still alive. He also managed to pay the victim's rent and cancel her insurance policies. Additionally, he was charged with fraud for taking out approximately 88 million won in loans under the victim's name to cover living expenses.

The investigation began after the victim's sibling reported her missing due to suspicious communication patterns. During the legal proceedings, the defendant attempted to deposit 15 million won as a criminal deposit for the bereaved family, but the family refused to accept the money and petitioned for severe punishment. The court ruled that the act of storing the body in a refrigerator for nearly a year desecrated the victim's dignity and warranted long-term isolation from society.