Judicial officials reported that Inha University’s campus rape suspect pled guilty on Aug. 16 to his murder charge for pushing the victim off a campus building.

On July 15, a female freshman was found dead and naked on the grounds of Inha University’s campus. CCTV footage confirmed that her fall happened two hours after the suspect escorted her back to the campus building after drinking with her friends and her. 

During preliminary police questioning, the suspect first confessed to throwing the victim out of the campus building window, but later changed his testimony, reporting that he did not remember what happened. At the time, there was a lack of evidence that supported a murder charge and the college freshman was initially charged with sexual assault.

“When I heard of this incident for the first time, I was taken aback by pure shock,” Eric Chang (12), Korean news viewer, said. “I was also confused because it was clear to me that he committed both rape and murder. I remember actively checking the news to see whether his charges were updated.”

The prosecutors added a murder charge against the suspect during the first week of August after confirming his “willful negligence,” a judgment further supported by a video discovered on the suspect’s phone. The video contains 29 minutes of audio capturing the victim resisting attempted rape, confirming the attempted rape and the victim’s plunge. The suspect is likely to face an additional charge of setting up a hidden camera. 

“I think this case really speaks volume about the prevalent social issues in Korea,” Eric said. “The controversy about hidden cameras has always been a hot topic in Korea, and it occurs frequently despite efforts to reduce the problem.”

While the suspect awaits further investigation, the Education Ministry said it will improve safety regulations at Inha University by tightening access to the campus at night and installing more closed-circuit TVs. The Ministry will also provide grief counseling for students and reinforce sexual abuse prevention programs along with other education initiatives.

“As a student going to university next year, this episode worries me greatly,” Amber Cheun (12), a Korean citizen, said. “I hope that universities worldwide prioritize students’ safety and tighten their security regulations to prevent incidents like this from happening.”