A man reenacts the crime scene where he pushed his wife into the sea and killed her by throwing stones on Jamjin Island, Incheon, in July, 2023. Newsis

The Supreme Court upheld a 28-year prison sentence, Thursday, for a man in his 30s who was put on trial for killing his wife by throwing her into the sea and hurling stones at her during a fishing trip.

The 31-year-old husband surnamed Park was indicted for murdering his wife, identified as A, last July while they were fishing on Jamjin Island in Incheon. He pushed her into the sea and threw stones at her.

An investigation revealed that Park had meticulously planned the crime, researching tide schedules in advance and factoring in weather conditions and water depth to stage the murder as an accidental fall.

Park married A in 2020 but began harboring resentment after she discovered his affair that same year and continued to confront him about it. Last July, when he learned during a trip to Jamjin Island that his wife had purchased a luxury handbag, he decided he could no longer stay in the marriage and resolved to kill her.

A lower court sentenced Park to 23 years in prison. The appellate court increased the sentence to 28 years.

In its ruling, the appellate court stated, "Despite the victim's pleas during the crime, the defendant did not stop and continued throwing stones. Eventually, he lifted a large stone and threw it at the victim's head, resulting in the murder."

The court further condemned the act, stating, "The method of the crime was extremely brutal." It also highlighted Park's attempt to cover up the crime by sending messages as if he were searching for the victim, in an effort to disguise the murder as an accidental death and destroy evidence.

Although Park paid 36 million won ($27,000) to the victim's parents, the court noted that he had failed to reach a full settlement with the family. The appellate court said, "Given the severity of the crime and the harm caused, it is difficult to consider the payment as grounds for a reduced sentence."

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision, rejecting Park's final appeal, stating, "It cannot be said that the 28-year sentence imposed by the lower court is excessively unjust."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.