Woman Sentenced to 22 Years for Murdering Husband, a Popular Lecturer, After Divorce and Infidelity Dispute

A South Korean woman has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing her husband, a prominent lecturer referred to as an 'Ilta Instructor.' The couple, married for 17 years, had been experiencing significant marital strife, including disputes over divorce and the wife's suspicions of her husband's infidelity.

The fatal incident occurred in February 2024 at their home in Pyeongtaek. During a drunken argument fueled by the ongoing divorce discussions and infidelity suspicions, the wife became enraged when her husband again demanded a divorce. In a fit of anger, she grabbed a heavy glass liquor bottle weighing approximately 2.7 kilograms and struck the intoxicated husband multiple times as he lay on the floor. The severe head trauma resulted in his death later that day.

Initially, the wife claimed self-defense, stating she only swung the bottle to protect herself after her husband threatened her with a knife. However, the court found evidence of intent to kill, considering the nature of the weapon, the number of blows, and the victim's state. Medical experts determined the injuries were caused by strong impacts, and a downstairs neighbor reported hearing repeated sounds like hammering. The first trial sentenced her to 25 years, but the appellate court reduced it to 22 years, citing her remorse, confession, and the circumstances of the crime, while still emphasizing the gravity of taking a life.

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My husband seems to be dead. We fought after drinking, and I hit him several times on the head with a liquor bottle next to me.