Family of Busan officetel fall victim petitions KBS over actor sister of perpetrator

The family of a woman who died in a 2024 Busan officetel fall has petitioned KBS, calling on the public broadcaster to take action after alleging that the sister of the man responsible for her death is currently appearing in one of its daily drama series.

The petition was posted Thursday on the KBS viewer petition board under the title "We are the bereaved family of the Busan officetel fall victim."

The incident occurred in January 2024, when a woman in her 20s, identified only as A, fell from the ninth floor of a Busan officetel during an altercation with her ex-boyfriend. A had been subjected to persistent stalking by the ex-boyfriend at the time.

The petitioner, who identified herself as A's mother, wrote that her daughter "met an unjust death after suffering from the perpetrator's relentless stalking," adding that "the perpetrator's family continues to live in peace."

She was particularly incensed that "the perpetrator's sister is currently appearing in a prominent role in a KBS evening daily drama series and receiving much love from viewers," while her own daughter had died unjustly. "Every time I see that, my heart breaks with guilt for failing to protect my daughter," she wrote.

The petitioner urged KBS to "clarify whether it was aware of these facts" and called on the broadcaster to "respond responsibly as a public broadcaster."

The fact that the perpetrator's sister is an actor had already come to light at the time of the incident. The bereaved family had posted on online communities then, claiming that "the perpetrator was freely using social media even while under investigation, and his sister was living a normal life and filming a drama series," causing a stir.

The family's renewed mention of the perpetrator's sister's identity — two years after the incident — has sparked debate online. Many users expressed sympathy with the family, commenting that "even I would be furious if I were in the family's position," "someone with such a connection should be removed from the drama," and "would they be saying this if he had properly apologized and sought forgiveness?" Others pushed back, arguing that "the sister has done nothing wrong" and that "guilt by association cannot be accepted."

Meanwhile, B, A's ex-boyfriend and the perpetrator, was indicted on charges including aggravated intimidation, intimidation, property destruction, refusal to vacate and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act. He received a sentence of three years and six months in prison at trial, which was reduced to three years and two months on appeal and confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Before the incident, B had begun relentlessly stalking A after she ended their relationship. He showed up at her home and knocked on the door for 17 hours, sent her photos of a suicide note while threatening to kill himself, and threw a chair in front of her, subjecting her to physical threats and instilling fear.

On the day of the incident, B went to A's home out of resentment over her seeing another man, and an argument ensued. A then jumped from a window and died. B was the sole witness to her death and the person who called emergency services.

The bereaved family argued that B's stalking behavior had a direct causal link to A's death, but courts at both the first and second trials rejected the claim, finding that "a clear connection could not be confirmed."