A South Korean court has convicted three men for the brutal murder of a fellow citizen near Pattaya, Thailand, last year. The Changwon District Court sentenced two of the perpetrators, aged 28 and 40, to life in prison, while a 27-year-old accomplice received a 25-year sentence. The trio was found guilty of robbery, murder, and abandoning the victim’s body.
The court’s decision comes after the men were accused of killing their compatriots in a violent crime near Pattaya, a popular tourist destination. The sentences have shown the severity of the crime, with the court emphasizing the brutal nature of the act. The case has gained attention, with concerns over violent crimes involving South Korean nationals abroad.
The three men were sentenced for murdering a South Korean man, later identified by Thai authorities as Roh Eui Jong, 34. His body was discovered in a plastic barrel dumped into Map Prachan reservoir in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, in May last year. According to investigations, the suspects lured the victim, who was intoxicated at the time, from a bar before forcing him into a vehicle, where he was strangled and beaten to death.
The suspects then abandoned the body and reportedly attempted to extort money from the victim’s family. Authorities uncovered that the three were involved in voice phishing scams, which served as their primary source of income. The crime was described as premeditated, with evidence pointing to their deliberate actions in concealing the murder and exploiting the victim’s family for financial gain.
Two of the suspects fled Thailand after the murder. One was later arrested in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and another in Vietnam. The third individual was apprehended at his residence in Jeongeup, located approximately 220 kilometers south of Seoul. South Korean authorities coordinated with international agencies to track and detain the fugitives.
While South Korean media outlets, such as Yonhap, did not disclose the names of the defendants, Thai police identified them as Lee Yong Jin, Lee Roun, and Kim Hyeonne Won. The agency also confirmed that the suspects’ voice phishing operations and violent actions had been key aspects of the case, which culminated in their prosecution and sentencing.
Yonhap reported that two of the suspects were identified as the primary perpetrators, while the third played an accomplice role.
During the trial, prosecutors sought the death penalty for the two main offenders and life imprisonment for the accomplice. The court noted that the principal culprits showed no genuine remorse and attempted to shift responsibility or offer excuses rather than apologize to the victim’s family. This lack of accountability was cited as a key factor in imposing the severe sentences.
