South Korean Supreme Court upholds 15-year sentence for man who killed longtime acquaintance

The Supreme Court of South Korea has finalized a 15-year prison sentence for a man in his 60s who killed a longtime acquaintance during a dispute over alcohol consumption. The incident occurred in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, at the residence where the two men had been living together for four months.

The victim and the defendant, who were former colleagues and had known each other for approximately 30 years, were involved in an argument after the victim began shouting while intoxicated. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation, leading the defendant to fatally stab the victim with a kitchen knife.

While the defendant argued for a reduced sentence based on diminished mental capacity due to intoxication, the courts rejected this claim. Judges cited CCTV footage showing the defendant's behavior prior to the incident and his detailed, coherent explanations provided to emergency services and police immediately following the crime as evidence of mental clarity. The court also declined to apply a reduction for voluntary surrender, noting that sentencing discretion remains with the court.