Kim Shin-hye Acquitted After 24 Years for Father's Murder

On January 6, 2025, Kim Shin-hye (47) was acquitted of the charges of murdering her father, a verdict delivered by the Gwangju District Court's Haenam branch after a retrial that took place 24 years after her initial conviction. Kim had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 for allegedly killing her father, A (then 52), by administering 30 sleeping pills mixed with liquor and disposing of his body at a nearby bus stop. The court found that evidence, including Kim's diary, had been seized without a warrant, and there was a possibility that her confession could have been false.

During the original investigation, police received a tip from Kim's uncle, who claimed she had confessed to the murder. However, Kim maintained her innocence throughout the trial, stating that she had falsely confessed to protect her younger brother, who was suspected of the crime.

In 2015, the Korean Bar Association filed for a retrial, leading to the recent court proceedings. The prosecution had argued that Kim committed the crime out of resentment for alleged sexual abuse by her father towards her and her sister, and that she had taken out eight insurance policies in her father's name to collect a substantial payout.

Judge Park Hyun-soo noted that Kim's brother had been a suspect at the time and suggested that Kim might have confessed to shield him from harsher punishment. The court also raised doubts about the presence of the sleeping pills in her father's system, as the autopsy revealed no significant traces of drug consumption.

Following the verdict, Kim's brother expressed his relief and hope that the ruling would bring some comfort to his sister. Attorney Park Jun-young, who represented Kim during the retrial, emphasized her long struggle for justice, having refused labor during her imprisonment and fought alone in solitary confinement. He urged for support to help Kim heal from the physical and emotional scars of her ordeal.