Seoul High Court upholds life imprisonment for man who murdered ex-girlfriend's mother

Lee Seok-joon, a 26-year-old who murdered his ex-girlfriend's mother, is questioned by reporters as he leaves the Songpa Police Precinct in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Dec. 17, 2021. [YONHAP]

The Seoul High Court on Thursday upheld the sentence of life imprisonment given to Lee Seok-joon, a 26-year-old who murdered his ex-girlfriend's mother last year.

The Seoul High Court upheld the Seoul Eastern District Court's June 21 sentencing of life in prison and demanded Lee complete an 80-hour sexual assault education program. He will also be prohibited from getting a job at institutions related to children, students and those with disabilities for the next decade.

The district court ruled Lee guilty of stabbing his ex-girlfriend's 49-year-old mother to death and causing serious injuries to her 14-year-old brother at her home in December last year.

The court said "murder is the worst crime and cannot be justified" and that Lee "needs to be removed from society."

Lee was under police investigation after his ex-girlfriend's mother reported him for detaining and raping her daughter. Lee impersonated a delivery man to commit the crime.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]