A Twisted Fate: The Crimes of Kim Young-ho
On November 28, 1989, the chilling truth behind a horrific crime was unveiled. Kim Young-ho, a 31-year-old man with a history of violence and neglect, was apprehended in a dilapidated inn in Seoul. He stood accused of raping and forcing his own mother to commit suicide, then callously burning her body to conceal the heinous act.
This tragic tale of a man consumed by darkness serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and abuse.
A product of a troubled childhood, Kim Young-ho had been abandoned by his parents and raised in an orphanage until the age of 19. His life took a dark turn as he drifted through cities like Seoul, Busan, and Mokpo, eking out a meager existence through odd jobs while living with his younger sibling. However, his desperation led him down a path of crime, as he has only made barely enough money to survive. Convicted five times for theft and violent offenses, Kim Young-ho’s criminal record reflected a growing disregard for human life.
His personal life was equally tumultuous. He married and had two children, but his violent tendencies drove his wife away. In a cruel twist of fate, he abandoned his own children in front of a 청량리 department store, 1 son and 1 daughter, mirroring the neglect he had endured as a child.
A Spiral of Violence and Regret
In 1987, Kim Young-ho, fueled by his bitter hatred, tracked down his mother. His visits were marked by violence and threats, a stark reflection of the darkness that had taken root within him.
The seeds of Kim Young-ho’s monstrous transformation were sown in the harsh soil of abandonment and neglect. A deep-seated resentment festered within him towards his biological mother, Ms. A, who had relinquished him and his younger brother to an orphanage in their youth. This unresolved anger, far from fading with time, grew into a consuming force that would eventually drive him to commit unspeakable acts.
Ms. A’s own life had been a series of unfortunate events. Her marriage, plagued by infidelity and a domineering mother-in-law, had left her feeling trapped and hopeless. In a desperate attempt to escape her misery, she made the heartbreaking decision to leave her young sons at an orphanage.
Despite her remorse over abandoning her children, Ms. A attempted to make amends by financially supporting her son, Kim Young-ho, who found her later in his life. However, she was met with his cruelty. Despite her efforts, Kim Young-ho, already a hardened criminal against his own family, remained unmoved.
Ms. A later found solace in a relationship with Mr. B, a man fifteen years her senior. Kim Young-ho’s violent behavior continued, and he subjected his mother and stepfather Mr. B to physical and emotional abuse, demanding exorbitant amounts of money.
A Legacy of Pain: The Roots of Evil
The culmination of this tragic saga occurred when Kim Young-ho, enraged by yet another demand for money, brutally murdered his stepfather, Mr. B, a frail man suffering from severe gout. In a callous attempt to cover his tracks, he falsely reported Mr. B’s death as a 중풍으로 인한 병사.
In a desperate attempt to atone for her past, Ms. A even gifted her son a significant sum of money from the sale of her land, which was about 2100 만원 enough to buy a small apartment at the time. However, Kim Young-ho squandered the funds on his failed business ventures.
The Son She Left Behind: The Orphan’s Revenge
On the night of November 25, 1989, a horrific act of violence unfolded. Kim Young-ho, fueled by alcohol and a twisted sense of rage, visited his mother, Ms. A. The ensuing events were a chilling display of brutality and depravity.
In a grotesque act of sexual assault and rape, Kim Young-ho sexually violated his own mother. Driven by a twisted logic, then he blamed her for abandoning him as a child and remarrying. In a final, horrific act, he threatened and forced her to take her own life.
With a machete provided by her son, Ms. A inflicted multiple stab wounds upon herself. As she lay bleeding, Kim Young-ho bound her body, placed it on a wheelbarrow, and covered it with branches. Dousing the macabre scene with a flammable liquid, he set it ablaze, consigning his mother’s remains to a fiery grave. She was still alive at the time.
Ms. A, despite the horrific ordeal, survived the initial attack. However, as she lay dying in the flames, Kim Young-ho fled the scene. Witnesses to his escape immediately alerted the authorities, triggering a manhunt.
Three days later, on March 28, 1989, Kim Young-ho was apprehended while sleeping in a dilapidated inn in Bongcheon-dong. The police, acting on a tip from Kim’s brother who had been seen in the area, conducted a thorough search of local lodging establishments.
Subsequently, Kim Young-ho was brought to trial for the murder of his mother and the desecration of her body. In both the first and second trials, he was sentenced to death. Despite appealing the verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the original sentence, citing the extreme cruelty of the crime and the barbaric method of execution.
Later, Kim Young-ho professed a newfound faith in Christianity. On December 29, 1992, he made a chilling statement, acknowledging his troubled upbringing and the depths of his hatred. He declared, “I was born into a poor family and was never loved by anyone,” and “My mother deserved to die.” Despite his religious conversion, he remained unrepentant for his heinous crimes. His execution marked the end of his life, and he faded into obscurity.
In a final act of compassion, Mr. Kim, in accordance with his wishes, donated his eyes to those in need, a stark contrast to the darkness that had consumed his life. In a chilling display of indifference, Kim Young-ho declared in court, “My mother deserves to die.”