A 27-year-old South Korean newlywed was strangled to death by her husband less than three months into their marriage after refusing his persistent sexual demands, according to revelations by SBS TV's investigative program "That Summer's Secret."
The victim, Yoo Hye-young, had complained to friends about her husband's controlling behavior before her death in March, stating she felt used as "a tool for his desires" without respect or understanding.
The couple had married after a 10-month courtship when Yoo became pregnant six months into their relationship. Though she initially compromised on intimacy during a Vietnam trip despite concerns about affecting her pregnancy, she suffered a miscarriage shortly after returning to South Korea.
Diagnosed with rare heterotopic twin pregnancy requiring fallopian tube removal, Yoo continued experiencing bleeding for over a month while her husband kept pressuring her for sex.
Neighbors reported hearing dragging sounds, floor impacts, and distressed gasping on the night of the crime. The husband initially reported finding his wife dead after work, but autopsy results confirmed death by asphyxiation from neck compression.
Arrested during her funeral where he showed no remorse, the husband eventually admitted to killing her during an argument about refusing intimacy, though prosecutors argue his calm post-crime behavior indicates premeditation rather than impulsive action.
The case is currently being tried at Seoul Southern District Court amid growing public demands for severe punishment and increased awareness about marital sexual violence and emotional manipulation in South Korea.
