According to authorities and the grieving family, the incident occurred in the early hours of October 20 last year at a 24-hour restaurant in Guri, Gyeonggi Province.
Kim Chang-min had reportedly visited the restaurant with his son, who has autistic tendencies, after the child expressed a desire to eat a pork cutlet. However, an argument broke out with another group of customers, resulting in a violent confrontation.
Footage published by JTBC shows a group of men in their 20s surrounding Kim, repeatedly assaulting him. Even after he collapsed due to the blow to the face, the attackers continued to drag him and beat him. Kim was taken to hospital about an hour after the attack but was declared brain dead. He later died after donating his organs, saving four lives.
Public anger has intensified following the court’s decision to deny arrest warrants for the suspects. Initially, police identified only one culprit and requested an arrest warrant on charges of causing bodily harm. The prosecution sent the case back for further investigation, and it took about four months before authorities again requested warrants for two suspects.
However, the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court rejected the request, citing that the suspects had a fixed residence and posed no flight risk. The victim’s family strongly criticized the investigation, saying that “due to the mishandling of the case, the offenders still roam the streets freely.” They also revealed that the suspects did not issue an apology. Kim’s younger sister expressed fear, saying the suspects live within 10 kilometers of the family.
Born in 1985, Kim Chang-min began his career in 2013, working in the props department for films such as Suspicion. He subsequently contributed to major productions, including Man of Will, The Drug King and The Witch.
As a director, he has gained recognition for works such as Someone’s Daughter (2016) and Exit 3 of Guui Station (2019), continuing his creative journey with his latest project Reply last year. His sudden and tragic passing has left the Korean film industry and audiences in deep mourning, as calls for justice and accountability in the case grow louder.
Sources: Nate News
