Court Orders Stalking Murderer Jeon Joo-hwan to Compensate Workers' Compensation Fund

On July 10, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Jeon Joo-hwan (34), the perpetrator of the stalking murder case at Sindang Station, must pay 190 million KRW to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service. The presiding judge, Chief Judge Cho Young-ki, declared the plaintiff victorious in the subrogation lawsuit against Jeon, as he failed to submit any defense during the trial, leading to a 'default judgment.' According to civil procedure law, if a defendant does not respond within 30 days of receiving the complaint, the court can assume the claims are acknowledged and proceed with a ruling.

Jeon Joo-hwan fatally stabbed a woman, referred to as A, in the women's restroom at Sindang Station on September 14, 2022. At the time, he was facing charges for illegally filming A and stalking her 351 times. Jeon committed the crime just a day before the first trial verdict for the stalking case was to be announced. In October 2023, he received a life sentence from the Supreme Court and is currently incarcerated at the North Gyeongsang Province Northern Second Prison (formerly Cheongsong Prison).

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service recognized A's death as a 'work-related injury' and provided her family with over 190 million KRW in survivor benefits. The agency subsequently filed a subrogation lawsuit against Jeon to recover this amount, which is a legal right allowing a third party to claim reimbursement from the original responsible party.

Meanwhile, A's family also filed a separate lawsuit against Seoul Metro, claiming negligence in safety measures, but lost in the first instance. The compensation claim against Jeon was settled last May through a court's mediation recommendation.