Rooftop Burial: Man Gets 14 Years for Killing Live-In Partner, Hiding Body for 16 Years

16 Years of Concealment: Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Murdering Live-In Partner and Hiding Body on Rooftop

The Supreme Court has upheld a 14-year prison sentence for a man who murdered his live-in partner in 2008 and hid her body for 16 years. On October 29, 2025, the Supreme Court Division 1 affirmed the original trial verdict in the appeal trial of Mr. Kim (59), who was indicted on murder charges. In addition to the murder charge, Kim was also convicted of violating the Narcotics Control Act and sentenced to an additional 2 years and 6 months in prison. This ruling has brought to light the full details of the horrific crime that was concealed on a rooftop for 16 years. The incident occurred in October 2008 in a multi-family house in Geoje City, South Gyeongsang Province. Kim murdered his live-in partner, who was in her 30s at the time, and then committed the gruesome act of burying her body in a travel bag on the outdoor veranda of the rooftop apartment. The method of the crime was very meticulous. Kim poured cement over the bag containing the body to conceal it and built bricks around the hiding place, applying more cement to avoid outside attention. This attempt at concealment lasted for 16 years, and the case seemed to have fallen into a mystery. The incident stemmed from a dispute between Kim and the victim over relationship issues. Kim claimed that he committed the crime impulsively in a fit of rage, but considering the circumstances of hiding the body and concealing the crime for a long period, the possibility of a planned crime cannot be ruled out. More shockingly, Kim lived in the same house for about eight years after the crime. He maintained his daily life as if nothing had happened, thoroughly concealing his crime. However, in August 2024, the case took a new turn when workers conducting leak repairs discovered a travel bag covered in cement on the rooftop veranda. The severely decomposed body was found inside the bag, and the police immediately launched an investigation, identifying and arresting Kim as a suspect. During the investigation, Kim confessed to the crime, and past drug use charges were also revealed, leading to additional indictments. He was also put on trial for using methamphetamine several times in 2024, which was combined with the murder charge. The court judged Kim's crime to be extremely cruel and socially unacceptable, sentencing him to 14 years in prison in the first and second trials, and separately sentencing him to 2 years and 6 months for violating the Narcotics Control Act. Kim appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court deemed the original trial's judgment to be just and dismissed Kim's appeal. As a result, Kim's 14-year prison sentence was finalized, and the truth that had been buried on the rooftop for 16 years was finally revealed to the world. The case has shocked society due to the bizarre criminal methods, the long-term attempt to conceal the crime, and the perpetrator's nonchalant daily life. The ruling has caused a great social stir, prompting demands for stricter punishment for violent crimes. Some argue that the 14-year sentence is somewhat lenient, considering the cruelty of Kim's criminal methods and their socially unacceptable nature. In particular, considering that he lived his daily life without guilt for a long period after the crime, there are growing voices calling for more severe punishment. However, the legal community believes that the sentence was determined by comprehensively considering various sentencing factors, and that Kim's confession, remorse, and lack of prior criminal record were taken into account. Nevertheless, this case serves as a reminder of the social awareness of violent crimes and emphasizes the need for efforts to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes. Through this case, our society must once again recognize the seriousness of violent crimes and actively discuss crime prevention and stronger punishments. In particular, there is an urgent need to improve social awareness and strengthen victim protection systems for crimes committed in close relationships, such as dating violence and domestic violence. In addition, the development of programs for the re-socialization of criminals and the establishment of a social reintegration support system are also important tasks. Taking this case as an opportunity, our society must continuously strive to create a safe and just society free from crime. The government of President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea has pledged to prepare measures to prevent and strengthen the punishment of violent crimes in light of this case, and to do its best to create a society where people can live in peace.