In a heart-wrenching episode of SBS's 'Kkokkomu,' singer Sunye is moved to tears as the show delves into the harrowing story of an aunt who brutally murdered her 8-year-old niece, a victim of inherited family violence.
'Kkokkomu,' directed by Ahn Yoon-tae, Lee Keun-byeol, and Kim Byung-gil, explores the theme of 'Inherited Evil,' featuring singer Sunye, Kim Jang-hoon, and actor Bae In-hyuk as listeners.
The show revisits the 'Yongin Niece Water Torture Case' from February 2021, which sparked nationwide outrage. The 8-year-old victim, referred to as Saetbyeol (a pseudonym), suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of her aunt, including continuous beatings, water torture, and forced ingestion of animal waste, ultimately leading to her death. At the time of her death, Saetbyeol's body was covered in bruises, and her third left rib was fractured. The discovery of her teeth in her esophagus, clenched in agony, highlights the horrific nature of her demise.
The episode will feature a video capturing Saetbyeol's final moments, drawing viewers' attention. Upon viewing the footage, Sunye, a mother of three, and MC Jang Hyun-sung were reportedly moved to tears. Sunye expressed her anguish, saying, "It's so heartbreaking. How much abuse did she endure to end up like this?" She couldn't watch the video to the end, breaking down in tears. Kim Jang-hoon was left speechless by the horror, while Bae In-hyuk was infuriated by the aunt's calm voice in the video, stating, "I didn't mean to kill her," showing no remorse.
The revelation that the aunt filmed the abuse herself, storing over 70 videos on her phone, adds to the outrage. The aunt was also a victim of childhood family violence; her father was the perpetrator in the 'Gunsan Wife Murder Case,' where he killed his wife. The aunt's previous efforts to extend her father's prison sentence through a national petition further amplify the shock.
The episode raises chilling questions: Why did the aunt, who understood the pain of family violence, become a perpetrator herself? Why did Saetbyeol have to die at the end of such horrific abuse? 'Kkokkomu' unveils the chilling cycle of 'Inherited Evil.'
'Kkokkomu' airs every Thursday at 10:20 PM on SBS.
Reporter: Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr