The Busan Roundhouse Kick Incident was an assault and attempted rape-murder that took place at about 5:00 a.m. on May 22, 2022, in Seomyeon, Busan Metropolitan City, Busanjin District, South Korea. A man in his 30s, Lee Hyeon-u (born 1992),1 struck a woman in her 20s on the back of the head with a roundhouse kick, kicked her repeatedly until she lost consciousness, and then dragged her away.2
Incident
The victim, a woman in her 20s, had been to a busking performance the previous day and returned to her officetel at about 5:00 a.m. on May 22, 2022, which was still before dawn. While she was waiting for the elevator, a man in his 30s whom she did not know approached from behind and struck the back of her head with a roundhouse kick. The victim fell to the floor, and the perpetrator attacked her indiscriminately, stomping on her several times. He then hoisted her over his shoulder and headed toward a corridor without CCTV, where he remained out of view of the cameras for eight minutes. Afterward, another resident found the woman lying on the first floor of the officetel and reported it. The perpetrator's girlfriend hid him at her home after he fled, and she lied to police who were searching for him, confusing the investigation.3
The victim suffered traumatic intracranial hemorrhage and paralysis of her right leg, among other injuries.23 She was also unable to remember the situation properly because of dissociative amnesia. According to a resident of the officetel who was the first witness, her top had been pushed up and her trousers had been unbuttoned and pulled down along with her underwear, so suspicions of a sex crime were raised from the outset. In the initial DNA analysis, the perpetrator's DNA was not detected.4 However, in a DNA analysis repeated during the appeal, DNA containing the perpetrator's Y chromosome was detected.5
On October 21, 2024, the court ruled that the perpetrator must pay the victim 100 million won in compensation.6
Perpetrator
The perpetrator, Lee Hyeon-u,7 was reported to be a former bodyguard. It was also confirmed that he had multiple prior convictions and had committed further crimes after serving prison terms.8 Lee, who was born on May 30, 1992, in Cheonghak-dong, Yeongdo District, Busan, was an unemployed former employee of a security company with no fixed residence. He is 171 cm tall, has type A blood, a sturdy build, and tattoos over his entire body.9 During middle school, when he was smoking, other children told him there was a fire, and he responded by shooting them with a water gun and then assaulting them, breaking one child's face.10 He received juvenile protective dispositions six times, and immediately after being released from a juvenile correctional facility, he committed 30 crimes within a single month.10
On August 24, 2020, Lee submitted an application to restrict copying of the criminal judgment in connection with case "Daegu District Court Seobu Branch 2020 Go-Dan 793," concerning violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint trespass into a residence) and related charges, so that access to the judgment was restricted. His co-defendant did not appeal, but on August 26, 2020, Lee filed an appeal, and on August 27, 2020, he submitted a notice of appeal.11 Lee claimed that the sentence of two years and six months' imprisonment was too heavy and unjust and argued that the sentence was improper.12 After receiving a final sentence of two years in 2020, Lee was released from prison in March 2022. About three months after his release, on May 22, 2022, he committed the attempted murder, and on June 2, 2022, he began serving time at Busan Detention Center.10
After receiving a prison sentence at first instance, Lee was held at Busan Detention Center, where he reportedly memorized the victim's personal details and even learned the name of the apartment complex where she lived from a fellow inmate. It was also reported that he said he would escape from the detention center and beat her to death with a boat oar.13 The victim expressed fear of the possibility of retaliatory crimes and argued that the criteria for disclosing personal information should be expanded to include cases where there is a possibility of retaliation against a living victim. The police did not disclose the perpetrator's personal information on the grounds that, in terms of the seriousness and cruelty of the crime, it did not meet the criteria for disclosure of personal information.14
The private detective YouTube channel Karacula Detective Agency disclosed the perpetrator's name, place of residence, and other personal information, as well as his criminal record.15 Disclosing personal information without proper legal procedure is illegal, and YouTube stated that it would consider whether to restrict the content on grounds of violation of personal information.16 However, Karacula stated that he knew he could be punished for defamation through statements of fact and that the perpetrator could become the target of retaliatory crimes after his release, but said that, as a YouTuber, disclosure was the only way he could share the victim's suffering. The victim also said in Karacula's video that she was not seeking vigilante justice by requesting this disclosure, but hoped that no more victims like her would emerge.17 After the personal information was disclosed by the YouTuber, the perpetrator's social media account was also made known online.17 Following the appellate court's ruling ordering public disclosure, his personal information was officially released.1819 An argument also emerged that the perpetrator planned to furlough and escape if his mother died.20
Defendant's criminal record
Before this case, he had a record of 18 criminal arrests.21
Special theft, attempted special theft
On December 12, 2006, the Busan Yeongdo Police Station booked Lee on charges of special theft and attempted special theft.21
On December 27, 2006, the Busan District Public Prosecutors' Office referred the case to juvenile protective proceedings.219
On December 18, 2006, he was booked by the Busan Yeongdo Police Station on charges of special theft and attempted special theft, and on December 27, 2006, the Busan District Public Prosecutors' Office referred the case to juvenile protective proceedings.21
Joint extortion
On March 14, 2007, he was booked by the Busan Dongbu Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion),21 and on June 4, 2007, the Busan District Court referred the case to juvenile protective proceedings.219
On March 22, 2007, he was booked by the Busan Sasang Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion), and on June 4, 2007, the Busan District Court referred the case to juvenile protective proceedings.21
Rape
On March 20, 2007, he was booked by the Busan Jungbu Police Station on a charge of rape,21 and on July 27, 2007, the Busan District Public Prosecutors' Office referred the case to juvenile protective proceedings.219
Joint extortion
On September 18, 2007, he was booked by the Gyeongnam Geoje Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion),21 and on December 26, 2007, the Jeonju District Public Prosecutors' Office referred the case to juvenile protective proceedings.219
Joint extortion, driving without a license, joint bodily injury, special theft, special robbery, attempted special theft, robbery causing bodily injury
On February 26, 2009, he was booked by the Busan Jinjin Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion).10
At about 10:00 p.m. in late January 2009, in a parking lot in Sasang-gu, Busan, he drove a 125cc motorcycle without a license to operate a motorized bicycle, and he drove motorcycles without a license eight times through about 6:55 p.m. on February 7, 2009. (Violation of the Road Traffic Act (driving without a license))
On March 9, 2009, he was booked by the Busan Jinjin Police Station on charges of robbery causing bodily injury, violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion), violating the Road Traffic Act (driving without a license), violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint bodily injury), special theft, special robbery, and attempted special theft.10
On March 15, 2009, he was booked by the Busan Jungbu Police Station on charges of robbery causing bodily injury, violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion), violating the Road Traffic Act (driving without a license), violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint bodily injury), special theft, special robbery, and attempted special theft.10
On April 21, 2009, he was booked by the Busan Jungbu Police Station on charges of robbery causing bodily injury, violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint extortion), violating the Road Traffic Act (driving without a license), violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint bodily injury), special theft, special robbery, and attempted special theft.10
On September 18, 2009, the Busan District Court consolidated these four cases and sentenced him to a maximum of three years and six months' imprisonment, a minimum of three years, and a fine of 200,000 won.910
Injury within a prison
On November 12, 2010, he was booked by the Gyeongbuk Gimcheon Juvenile Correctional Facility on a charge of injury,10 and on December 22, 2010, the Daegu District Court Gimcheon Branch sentenced him to a fine of 1 million won.910
Group or weapon-based injury, injury, special theft, robbery causing bodily injury, and repeat offenses
On March 13, 2013, he was booked by the Busan Jungbu Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (group or weapon-based injury), injury, special theft, and violating the Act on Special Punishment of Specific Crimes (repeat robbery causing bodily injury, etc.).10
On March 15, 2013, he was booked by the Busan Gangseo Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Punishment of Specific Crimes (repeat robbery causing bodily injury, etc.).10
On March 18, 2013, he was booked by the Busan Jungbu Police Station on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (group or weapon-based injury) and injury.10
On May 1, 2014, the Busan High Court consolidated these three cases and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment.92210
Injury, violation of the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act, violation of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, fraud, special theft, joint trespass into a residence
On March 5, 2020, he was booked by the Daegu Seongseo Police Station on charges of injury, violating the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act, violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, fraud, special theft, and violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint trespass into a residence),10 and on March 17, 2020, he was indicted together with An Woo-min (2020 Go-Dan 793).11 On March 11, 2020, he was booked by the Ulsan Ulju Police Station on charges of violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act and fraud,21 and on June 12, 2020, the Daegu District Public Prosecutors' Office Seobu Branch indicted him.219 On June 17, 2020, the case was consolidated into case 2020 Go-Dan 793.23 On March 25, 2020, he was booked by the Gyeonggi Uijeongbu Police Station on a charge of injury,21 and on May 12, 2020, the Daegu District Public Prosecutors' Office Seobu Branch indicted him.219 On May 13, 2020, the case was consolidated into case 2020 Go-Dan 793.24 On June 2, 2020, he was booked by the Busan Yeongdo Police Station21 on a charge of violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, and on July 10, 2020, the Daegu District Public Prosecutors' Office Seobu Branch9 issued a non-prosecution decision on grounds of no prosecutable offense.25 On November 13, 2020, the Daegu District Court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on charges of "violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Violence (joint trespass into a residence), violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, violating the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act, injury, special theft, and fraud" (three cases consolidated). On March 3, 2022, he was released from Busan Prison upon completion of his sentence.
Trial proceedings and results
First instance: Busan District Court
Initially, prosecutors sought a sentence of 20 years' imprisonment for the perpetrator, but the first-instance panel of the Busan District Court sentenced the male perpetrator to 12 years' imprisonment, and sentenced his girlfriend, who had hidden him, to eight months' imprisonment with two years of suspended sentence. The perpetrator claimed he had no intention to kill, but the first-instance panel found that he had intent to kill because he continued the assault even though he foresaw the risk of death, and it also rejected a claim of diminished responsibility due to intoxication.26 Both the perpetrator and the prosecution appealed.3
In response to this ruling, the victim posted a message titled "In 12 years, I will die" on Nate Pann, expressing that, although there was an abundance of evidence, the thought that the perpetrator would serve only 12 years and be released left her breathless, and she hoped that the perpetrator, a social evil, would never return to society.27
Second instance (appeal): Busan High Court
On May 31, 2023, at the final hearing of the appeal, prosecutors sought 35 years' imprisonment, the attachment of a location-tracking device, and a 20-year protective supervision order. They also requested that the indictment be amended to add attempted rape-murder, and the request was accepted. The indictment was amended because Y chromosomes of the perpetrator were detected through genetic analysis in four places on the inside of the victim's jeans and thigh area and in one place on her cardigan.28 Regarding the genetic analysis results, prosecutors viewed them as objective physical evidence of contact during the process of removing or putting on the victim's trousers and judged them to be decisive evidence capable of proving the crime of attempted rape-murder, and therefore requested the amendment of the indictment.29 It was reported that the amendment of the indictment and the thorough re-examination of DNA were backed by a special directive from Lee Won-seok, Prosecutor General.30 The perpetrator continued to deny that he had intended to kill or commit sexual assault.29
The prosecutor revised the defendant's criminal facts to read: "In the early morning of May 22, 2022, on a road in Bujeon-dong, Busanjin District, Busan, the defendant followed the victim as she was returning home in order to commit sexual violence; standing behind her in front of the building's elevator, he struck the back of her head forcefully with a roundhouse kick to knock her down, stomped on her head to render her unconscious, carried her over his shoulder to a blind spot not covered by CCTV, removed her jeans and underwear and attempted to commit sexual violence, and inflicted diffuse brain injury and other injuries, including cerebral hemorrhage, on the victim."31
On June 12, the court sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment at the verdict hearing.32 In addition to the 20-year sentence, the court ordered him to have his personal information disclosed for 10 years, to be barred from employment at child and youth-related institutions for 10 years, to wear a location-tracking device for 20 years, and to complete 80 hours of sexual violence prevention education. In the written judgment, the court stated that this case was not simple assault but an assault carried out for the purpose of sexual violence.33
In response to the court's ruling, the perpetrator said, "I don't understand why I have to receive such a long sentence," and filed a final appeal, which led to a ruling by the Supreme Court.3435
Third instance (final appeal): Supreme Court
On September 21, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the second-instance ruling, which imposed 20 years' imprisonment, disclosure of personal information for 10 years, a bar on employment at institutions related to children, youth, and persons with disabilities, and an order to wear an electronic location-tracking device for 20 years.36
Retaliation threat incident against the victim
First instance: Busan District Court
On December 28, 2023, the Busan District Public Prosecutors' Office Seobu Branch, First Criminal Division, indicted the perpetrator on charges including retaliatory threats. The perpetrator was reported to have made threatening statements to a YouTuber held in the same cell at the detention center, saying that after his release he would retaliate against the victim.37 According to testimony from a fellow inmate on May 27, 2024, it was revealed that the perpetrator had even planned a prison escape in order to retaliate against the victim.383940 It was also revealed that he had written the names of judges and prosecutors as additional retaliation targets.383940
Incident involving threats against a former girlfriend
First instance: Busan District Court
While in detention, he sent a threatening letter to his former girlfriend, and he admitted to all of the charges against him.41
Other
A film company announced that it would make a film based on this incident. The working title is "Becoming a Devil (film)," directed and written by Im Yong-jae, starring Jeon Hyo-sung and Yeon Je-hyung. It is scheduled for release in 2025.42
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