On May 8, JTBC’s “Crime Chief” reported the story based on a tip from a woman referred to as Ms. A.
According to the report, Ms. A, in her 20s, said she began dating the owner of the restaurant where she had worked since late October last year. The man, in his 30s, began showing violent tendencies just two months into the relationship.
“Even small arguments would end with him hitting me,” she said. “Then on the night of April 21, when I told him I wanted to break up, he attacked me.”
According to Ms. A, the incident took place on a street in Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. The man punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious. While she lay on the ground, he continued to kick her.
“When I passed out, he nudged me with his foot and said, ‘Get up,’” she recalled. “Then he dragged me by the hair to a nearby motel. I only regained full consciousness once we were inside the room.”
Ms. A, sobbing and kneeling in front of her boyfriend, said he sat on the bed smoking and threatened her, “I’ll kill you and go to jail, so just die.”
Fearing for her life, Ms. A tried to calm him down by suggesting they go on a trip to Jeju Island together. She then tricked him by pretending to go retrieve her phone, claiming she had dropped it outside. Barefoot, she escaped the motel room and knocked on nearby doors, pleading for help.
Thanks to the assistance of another guest, she was able to call the police. The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested by officers who responded to the call.
The man was detained on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful confinement and has been referred to the prosecution. Ms. A was diagnosed with a six-week recovery due to a fractured cheekbone and underwent surgery on May 7.
She also revealed that during their relationship, the man opened a bank account and mobile phone line under her name. These accounts have since been flagged for fraud, making them inaccessible.
“The police didn’t tell me exactly what kind of criminal record he had, but they did say, ‘He’s truly a bad person,’” she added.
“What scares me the most is that he lives in the same area,” she continued. “Even though he claimed to be broke, he hired a private lawyer. I’m terrified that he might come after me once the trial is over.”
This harrowing case has once again drawn public attention to the dangers of intimate partner violence and the urgent need for stronger protective measures for victims. Advocates are calling for increased awareness, support systems, and stricter punishment for perpetrators of gender-based violence to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.