On July 9, 2021, in the Daedeok District of Daejeon, South Korea, the body of a 20-month-old girl was discovered in an icebox in a one-room apartment. The discovery was made by the child’s grandmother, who immediately reported it to the police. The case quickly gained nationwide attention due to its tragic nature.
The primary suspect, identified as Mr. Yang, the girl’s 29-year-old stepfather, was charged with fatal abuse and suspected sexual assault. Investigators determined the child had died on June 15, 2021, and an autopsy indicated signs of sustained abuse and possible sexual violence.
Mr. Yang had a criminal history, including multiple incarcerations for fraud and theft. After his release from prison, he lived with his partner and her daughter at the home of his partner’s mother. Authorities later confirmed through DNA testing that Mr. Yang was not the biological father of the victim.
Reports from the investigation revealed a troubling pattern of domestic violence. Mr. Yang was found to have repeatedly assaulted both his partner and the child. When the grandmother lost contact with the family, she tracked them down and made the heartbreaking discovery.
Mr. Yang was apprehended three days later at a motel in Daejeon. During interrogation, he initially denied the allegations but eventually confessed after failing a polygraph test. He admitted to beating the child for over an hour and acknowledged the possibility of sexual assault, although he claimed not to remember due to alcohol consumption.
In December 2021, prosecutors sought the death penalty along with 15 years of chemical castration, citing multiple charges including child abuse resulting in death, rape of a minor, concealment of a body, fraud, and theft.
The initial trial court sentenced him to 30 years in prison, citing mitigating factors such as his troubled upbringing and expressions of remorse. However, the prosecution appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient.
On May 27, 2022, the Daejeon High Court overturned the initial ruling and imposed a life sentence, along with additional measures: 200 hours of mandatory child abuse treatment, a 10-year employment ban in child and disability-related institutions, 20 years of electronic monitoring, and 10 years of public disclosure of his personal information.
The victim’s biological mother, identified as Ms. Jeong, was sentenced to three years in prison for her role in the abuse and concealment of the body. She was released in 2024.
Mr. Yang remains incarcerated under a life sentence, a case that continues to resonate deeply with the public and underscores the need for stronger protections for vulnerable children.