Tragic Military Crime Case in South Korea

On September 25, 2023, a tragic and disturbing event occurred when 38-year-old military officer Yang Kwang committed a heinous crime against a female military civil servant with whom he had been in a relationship since earlier this year. The victim was engaged romantically with Yang, who, due to conflicts between them, devised a plan to murder her. On the day of the incident, after a verbal argument during their commute, Yang choked the victim to death in his vehicle. Following the murder, he mutilated her body and disposed of it in the Bukhan River near Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. Yang displayed calculated behavior by using an SUV with forged license plates to conceal his crime later that evening. According to police investigations, before committing the crime, Yang conducted a thorough search of his vehicle, indicating a level of premeditation. The unfolding of events and analysis by profilers suggest that this crime was not merely a result of chance but reflected certain planned tendencies. The societal impact of this incident is profound, highlighting the need for awareness and measures to prevent such tragedies in military settings.