25.10.02.Today News : Supreme Court Confirms 25-Year Sentence in Sungnyemun Cleaner Murder

Supreme Court Confirms 25-Year Sentence in Sungnyemun Cleaner Murder

📍Brutality of Crime and Victim’s Family Plea Lead to Heavy Sentence; 20-Year Electronic Monitoring Order Also Imposed

The Supreme Court of Korea has finalized a 25-year prison sentence for a 70-year-old Chinese national who fatally stabbed a female street cleaner in an underground passage near Sungnyemun, Seoul. The ruling also includes a 20-year electronic monitoring order. The decision reflects the court’s stern stance against crimes targeting vulnerable workers and has sparked wider debates on elderly crime, foreign nationals’ criminal management, and public safety in urban spaces.

A 70-year-old ethnic Chinese man who murdered a sanitation worker with a weapon has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the sentence now finalized.

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■ Circumstances of the Incident
The murder occurred at around 4 a.m. on August 2 last year. A 60-year-old woman, employed as a street cleaner by a local contractor, was stabbed multiple times while cleaning the underground passage near Sungnyemun. The attacker, identified as Mr. Li, a 72-year-old Chinese national, was carrying a knife and attacked after the victim refused his request for water and threatened to report him.

■ First Trial – Heavy Sentence
In February, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Li to 25 years in prison and imposed a 20-year electronic monitoring order. The court described the crime as “exceptionally brutal” and noted the victim’s family’s strong plea for severe punishment.

■ Appeals Process – Prosecution vs. Defense
During the appeals trial, prosecutors sought life imprisonment, arguing that the defendant had no legitimate motive, disregarded human life, and fled without offering any aid. The defense countered that the act was impulsive, not premeditated, and asked for leniency since Li did not resist arrest or destroy evidence.
The appellate court rejected both appeals, ruling that there was no new circumstance warranting a change in sentence.

■ Supreme Court Decision
On July 4, the Supreme Court dismissed Li’s final appeal, affirming the 25-year sentence and 20-year electronic monitoring order. Justice Oh Kyung-mi stated that the lower court’s judgment contained no legal error.

■ Victim and Family’s Grief
The victim had worked for years as a street cleaner, performing daily early-morning shifts to maintain the city’s cleanliness. Her family expressed deep sorrow during the trial, stating that they lost their loved one to “an incomprehensible act of violence.” The tragedy has highlighted the vulnerability of laborers in precarious conditions such as sanitation workers.

■ Broader Social Impact – Elderly Crime and Foreign Nationals
The case also drew attention to broader societal issues. Statistics show that crimes committed by elderly offenders have been steadily increasing in Korea over the past decade, driven by social isolation, economic hardship, and psychological instability.
At the same time, crimes involving foreign nationals often spark calls for stronger oversight and management systems. Experts warn, however, that generalizing such incidents risks stigmatizing entire communities.

■ Public Safety in Urban Spaces
Since the murder occurred in a busy underground passage frequently used by commuters, concerns about public safety in urban spaces have intensified. Experts emphasize the need for increased CCTV coverage, stronger police presence during late hours, and structural safety measures to protect vulnerable workers and citizens.

■ Significance of the Case
The ruling is widely seen as a strong judicial response to a brutal crime against a socially vulnerable worker. Yet, beyond the legal outcome, it raises urgent questions about managing elderly offenders, preventing violent crimes by foreign nationals, improving labor conditions for sanitation workers, and reinforcing safety in public spaces across the nation.

One-line summary : A 70-year-old Chinese national who murdered a street cleaner near Sungnyemun was sentenced to 25 years in prison with a 20-year electronic monitoring order, a case that reignited debates on elderly crime, foreign nationals, and urban public safety.