Man gets 23 years for murdering ex-partner, a golf caddie, in South Korea

In Gyeongnam, South Korea, a man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the brutal murder of his former common-law wife, a caddie at a local golf course. The attack occurred on September 5th last year when the 50-year-old perpetrator, disguised in groundskeeper attire, approached the 50-year-old victim from behind and fatally stabbed her.

The couple had been in a common-law relationship for about 16 years. The perpetrator's life had been in decline since 2020 when his travel agency business, operated under his partner's name, effectively collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then worked odd jobs at a shipyard but quit, spending most of his time drinking.

His former partner, facing financial hardship, took a job as a caddie in 2021 and became the primary breadwinner. However, the relationship deteriorated due to his demands for money, frequent errands for alcohol, verbal abuse, and threats. In July last year, she left him and stopped providing financial support.

“

He planned to take the victim's life in a planned manner for no justifiable reason, despite being in a common-law relationship for about 16 years.

Consumed by rage and a delusion that she had reunited with her ex-husband, the perpetrator planned his revenge. He meticulously prepared by posing as a customer wanting to write a thank-you note to a caddie to learn her cart number and acquiring groundskeeper clothing. After three days of surveillance, he found his opportunity and carried out the attack.

The court sentenced him to 23 years in prison and ordered five years of probation, citing the unprovoked nature of the killing, his lack of effort toward restitution, the victim's family's plea for severe punishment, and his prior criminal record. The prosecution appealed the sentence, arguing it was too lenient, but the appellate court upheld the original ruling.

“

He planned to take the victim's life in a planned manner for no justifiable reason, despite being in a common-law relationship for about 16 years. Considering that he has not made any efforts for victim recovery, that the bereaved family is requesting severe punishment, and that he has a history of multiple criminal convictions, the sentence was determined.