Prosecution Seeks Life Sentence for Man in His 50s in 'Suyu-dong Restaurant Stabbing' Case

Request for 30-Year Electronic Monitoring Also Made

The prosecution has requested a life sentence for a man in his 50s who wielded a weapon at a restaurant in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, killing the wife and injuring the husband, who were the owners of the restaurant.

A man identified as A, who attacked with a weapon in a restaurant in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, causing the death of the restaurant owner, is attending a detention hearing at the Northern District Court of Seoul in October last year. Photo by Yonhap News

At the sentencing hearing held on March 10, 2026, by the Criminal Division 14 of the Seoul Northern District Court (presiding judge Oh Byeonghee), the prosecution asked the court to sentence 59-year-old Kim to life imprisonment on charges of murder and attempted murder.

The prosecution also requested that Kim be required to wear an electronic location tracking device (electronic anklet) for 30 years and be placed under supervised probation. As conditions, they asked the court to order at least one psychiatric treatment and submission of results per month, a ban on alcohol consumption, and a prohibition on carrying weapons.

The prosecution explained its sentencing recommendation by stating, "The defendant committed what is known as a 'senseless crime' and has shown no genuine remorse," adding, "Please consider the cruel nature of the crime and the extreme severity of his guilt."

Kim was indicted on charges of murdering the female owner, identified as A, with a camping knife at a restaurant in Suyu-dong around 2 p.m. on October 26, 2025, after an argument broke out because he did not receive a promotional lottery ticket worth 1,000 won, which is given for cash payments. Although the lottery tickets were not issued on Sundays, Kim caused a disturbance and attacked the husband, identified as B, who tried to stop him, inflicting severe injuries that required six weeks of medical treatment.

Kim’s attorney argued that "this was not a premeditated crime, but rather the manifestation of a severe pathological condition that had developed over a long period and was triggered while he was intoxicated," and asked the court to take into account that he was effectively out of control at the time when determining the sentence.

When given the opportunity for a final statement by the court, Kim only nodded without making any remarks. However, he did express his opposition to the prosecution’s request for the electronic monitoring order. Previously, Kim had admitted to the charges but claimed he did not remember committing the crime at the time.

The sentencing hearing for Kim is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. on April 9, 2026.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.