Husband Who Forced Wife to Drink Pesticide and Write Suicide Note Gets 20 Years

A South Korean husband has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for coercing his wife into drinking pesticide and writing a suicide note, a case that revealed a tragic history of domestic abuse. The incident came to light after the wife was found crawling from a field, desperately seeking help and stating she had ingested pesticide.

She was in critical condition, foaming at the mouth, and managed to tell authorities that her husband had threatened to kill her with a rock if she refused to drink the pesticide and write a suicide note. The note she was forced to write claimed she was choosing to end her life due to difficulties in a new life with another man after divorcing her husband.

However, investigations revealed the victim, in her mid-40s, was still legally married to her husband, Kim (alias), with whom she had children. She had recently moved her address, and her husband's behavior, including not showing surprise at her death and bringing another woman to the police station as his current partner, raised suspicions.

Further investigation uncovered diaries detailing years of severe physical abuse, confinement, and extreme jealousy by her husband. He reportedly monitored her every move, even accompanying her to the bathroom and supermarket, and physically assaulted her for simple interactions with neighbors. Evidence, including cell phone location data and CCTV footage, confirmed Kim's presence near the victim's residence and his purchase of the pesticide on the day of the incident, accompanied by the victim and his mistress. The court convicted Kim of murder by coercion, upholding his sentence through appeals.