Former Judge Lee Seong-ho Reflects on Sentencing in 'Molar Dad' Case

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Former judge turned lawyer, Lee Seong-ho, shared his thoughts on the infamous 'Molar Dad' case during his appearance on 'KBS2 Rooftop Problem Solvers' alongside his wife, actress Yoon Yoo-sun, on the 19th.

In 2018, while serving as a judge, Lee Seong-ho sentenced the defendant in the 'Molar Dad' case to death, the maximum penalty under the law. The first trial court stated, "We sentence the defendant to death to permanently isolate him from society in the name of justice," adding that the defendant's repeated submissions of apology letters seemed more like a desperate attempt to receive a lighter sentence rather than genuine remorse.

Reflecting on writing the judgment, Lee recalled, "It was a lengthy judgment, and I carefully considered each sentence and word to convey the right meaning," acknowledging the case's societal impact and the emotional difficulty he faced during sentencing due to thoughts of the victim.

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Lee described the victim as a cheerful and altruistic friend, while the defendant's daughter was somewhat immature. He recounted how the victim's mother regretted advising her daughter to help those in need, a sentiment that deeply resonated with him.

Explaining the rationale behind the death sentence, Lee noted, "Although South Korea has the death penalty, it hasn't been executed since the 1990s. Personally, as a judge, I believe that if the death penalty exists, it signifies the presence of crimes warranting such a sentence. It serves to declare acts that society cannot tolerate."

He candidly shared, "Judges often prefer not to have blood on their hands, but I felt compelled to make a strong statement," emphasizing the difficulty yet necessity of the decision. "After discussions with the associate judge, we courageously decided it was our duty to deliver this verdict," he concluded.

Jo Na-yeon, TenAsia Reporter nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr