[26.05.31]Lee Chae-won Named as Victim in Gwangju Schoolgirl Murder

“So Her Name Will Not Be Forgotten”: Parents of 17-Year-Old Lee Chae-won Reveal Her Identity as More Details Emerge in Gwangju Schoolgirl Murder Case

📍Parents say they want their daughter remembered as investigators uncover more details about suspect Jang Yoon-gi’s crimes

The parents of 17-year-old Lee Chae-won, a high school student who was murdered in Gwangju, have publicly revealed their daughter’s name and photograph in an effort to ensure that her death is not forgotten and that similar tragedies do not happen again. Investigators later determined that suspect Jang Yoon-gi had originally intended to target a woman who had reported him for stalking before ultimately attacking Lee, a stranger he encountered while she was walking home. Additional allegations involving stalking, unlawful confinement, and sexual assault have since surfaced, further intensifying public outrage over the case.

🔹 “We Don’t Want Her Name to Be Forgotten” — Parents Decide to Reveal Their Daughter’s Identity
Lee Chae-won dreamed of studying emergency medical services and dedicating her life to helping save others. According to her family, she was so determined about her future that she independently sought university admission counseling and carefully planned her career path.

Her father described her as a remarkably kind and considerate daughter.

“She was such a good child that she barely even had a rebellious phase,” he said. “She never once raised her voice at her parents.”

In the early hours of June 5, after finishing a late-night study session, Lee began her journey home. When she failed to answer repeated phone calls past her usual arrival time, her parents became increasingly concerned.

Eventually, someone else answered her phone.

Her father recalled being told that his daughter was in cardiac arrest and that he needed to come to the emergency room immediately.

After much deliberation, Lee’s parents chose to publicly reveal their daughter’s identity. They said the decision was not motivated by publicity but by a desire to prevent future victims from suffering the same fate.

Her mother explained that parents were often the only people capable of continuing to speak on behalf of victims after a tragedy.

“The only thing we can do for our daughter now is make sure she is not forgotten,” she said.

Her father also called for the harshest possible punishment, saying he hoped the perpetrator would never be allowed to return to society.

Local civic groups and memorial organizations have announced plans to hold remembrance events in Lee’s honor, while her family continues to advocate for stronger measures to prevent similar crimes.

🔹 High School Student Fatally Attacked While Walking Home
The attack occurred shortly after midnight on June 5 near a high school in Gwangsan District, Gwangju.

According to investigators, Jang Yoon-gi followed Lee as she walked home alone after studying. He then attacked her repeatedly with a knife.

Lee suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a hospital but ultimately died despite emergency treatment.

A male student who heard her screams attempted to intervene and help her. Jang allegedly attacked him as well, causing injuries before fleeing the scene. The student survived.

Police immediately launched a large-scale investigation, reviewing surveillance footage and tracing the suspect’s movements. Approximately 11 hours after the attack, officers located and arrested Jang near his residence.

During early questioning, Jang claimed he had originally intended to take his own life and had brought a knife with him for that purpose. He told investigators that he experienced a sudden impulse after seeing Lee and carried out the attack.

However, investigators later uncovered evidence suggesting a more complex sequence of events.

🔹 Investigation Reveals Original Target Was a Woman Who Reported Him for Stalking
As the investigation progressed, police discovered that Jang had become obsessed with a woman he previously knew through part-time work.

Authorities said Jang repeatedly pursued the woman despite her rejection of his advances. Concerned for her safety, she reported him to police for stalking and subsequently moved away from the area.

Unaware that she had relocated, Jang reportedly spent nearly two days searching for her throughout the district.

Investigators believe his frustration intensified after he failed to find her. According to police findings, he then redirected his anger toward Lee Chae-won, whom he encountered while she was walking home alone.

Police concluded that the crime was not a random attack in the conventional sense. Instead, investigators characterized it as a revenge-driven and anger-motivated crime in which the suspect deliberately selected a substitute victim after being unable to locate his original target.

Evidence collected during the investigation indicated that Jang took steps to avoid detection after the attack, including changing locations and attempting to conceal his movements.

Authorities also found another unopened knife in his possession when he was arrested. Investigators believe it may have been intended for use against the woman who had reported him.

🔹 Additional Charges Surface After Identity Disclosure
Jang’s identity was publicly disclosed by police weeks before the latest developments emerged.

Following further investigation, authorities announced additional allegations involving stalking, unlawful confinement, sexual assault, and related offenses against the woman he had allegedly targeted before the murder.

Police stated that Jang had confined the woman for more than ten hours and sexually assaulted her shortly before the killing. Prosecutors are continuing to examine digital evidence, forensic findings, and witness testimony related to those allegations.

Law enforcement officials said the case revealed multiple warning signs associated with high-risk relationship-based violence, including repeated stalking behavior, threats, obsessive pursuit, and escalating aggression after rejection.

Prosecutors have described the case as one of the most serious violent crimes handled in the region in recent years and said they are pursuing a comprehensive investigation into all related offenses.

One-line summary : As the parents of Lee Chae-won publicly revealed their daughter’s identity to prevent similar tragedies, investigators found that Jang Yoon-gi murdered the teenager after failing to locate a woman who had previously reported him for stalking.