Identity of man accused of fatally stabbing high school girl disclosed to public

The man accused of fatally stabbing a female high school student in central Gwangju last week was transferred to prosecutors on Thursday, the same day his identity was made public for the first time.

Jang Yun-gi, accused of fatally stabbing a female high school student in central Gwangju, appears before reporters at the Gwangju Seobu Police Station on May 14. [YONHAP]

The man accused of fatally stabbing a female high school student in central Gwangju last week was transferred to prosecutors on Thursday, the same day his identity was made public for the first time.

Jang Yun-gi, his face uncovered, appeared before reporters at the Gwangju Seobu Police Station at around 7:45 a.m. When asked how he felt, he only said, “I'm sorry.” He walked to the transport vehicle with his head held high, at one point holding the gaze of the journalists crowded outside the station for about 10 seconds. He did not respond to questions about his motive, whether the attack was premeditated or why he had attempted to destroy evidence, only repeating, “I'm sorry,” once more before boarding the vehicle.

Jang is accused of killing a 17-year-old girl in front of a high school in Gwangsan District at around 12:11 a.m. on May 5. He is also accused of attempting to kill a male high schooler from another school who came to her aid after hearing her scream. Jang fled the scene on foot and by taxi before being arrested near his residence approximately 11 hours later at around 11:24 a.m. Police formally detained him on May 7.

According to their investigation, Jang had also been accused of stalking and sexually assaulting a foreign woman who had been his coworker at a part-time job. She reported him to the police on May 3, but the case was closed at the time without escalating into a formal investigation.

Jang allegedly spent the next two days wandering the streets, looking for the coworker. When he could not find her, he redirected his rage to the teenager, who was walking home alone.

As a result, police have added a charge of preparation for murder, concluding that Jang intended to kill the foreign woman as well.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Police published Jang's name, age and mug shot on its website on Thursday, citing the severity of the crime and the public's right to know. The disclosure had been decided on May 8, but it was delayed by five days after Jang refused to sign a form acknowledging the decision, which triggered a mandatory grace period under Korea's serious crime identity disclosure law.

BY CHO MUN-GYU [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]