Daegu Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Murdering Niece and Attempting Murder

A Seven-Year Sentence for a Family Tragedy

A 62-year-old man in Daegu, South Korea, was sentenced to seven years in prison on November 6 after a jury found him guilty of murdering his niece and attempting to murder his elderly mother.

The Fatal Morning at Najong Port

On March 22, the defendant, identified by the surname Baek, drove his niece in her 30s and 90-year-old mother to Najong Port in Gyeongju. Surveillance footage captured the moment Baek entered the water and returned to shore alone. His niece, who lived with a severe intellectual disability, followed him into the sea but could not return. Baek made no attempt to rescue her, and she drowned.

Following her death, Baek attempted to push his mother into the water. Bystanders intervened, alerting the police and preventing a second fatality.

Years of Isolation and Financial Strain

Baek had lived with his mother, sister, and niece since 2018. Following his sister’s death from a heart attack in 2022, he had been the sole caregiver for the family for approximately eight years. In court, Baek testified that his mother, who suffered from dementia, had initially requested he move in due to fears regarding her own declining health and the needs of her daughter and granddaughter.

The defense presented text messages Baek had sent to his brother, detailing the emotional and financial toll of his situation. Baek claimed his niece’s violent behavior had escalated, causing significant property damage. He stated he received little support from other relatives while managing the household on a combined pension of approximately 800,000 won per month and 80 million won in savings.

Judicial Rejection of Caregiver Stress Plea

The Daegu District Court’s 13th Criminal Division, presided over by Judge Chae Hee-in, rejected the request for leniency. While the court acknowledged that Baek had no prior criminal record and faced extreme economic and personal hardship, it maintained that murder remains unjustifiable.

The court labeled the crimes premeditated rather than impulsive. The jury was unanimous in its guilty verdict, with four jurors recommending a seven-year sentence and three suggesting eight years. Baek has accepted the decision and will not appeal. The court cited the lasting trauma to his mother and the risk of recidivism as primary factors in the seven-year prison term.

Unanswered Questions in the Caregiving Crisis

The defendant’s mother remains alive, though the court noted she suffered significant psychological impact from the incident.