The family of the high school girl killed in May’s stabbing attack in Gwangju disclosed her name and portrait to local media, saying they hoped she would be remembered as Lee Chae-won, a 17-year-old who dreamed of becoming an emergency responder, rather than as an unnamed victim.
According to multiple local media reports, Lee’s father chose to reveal his daughter’s identity in the hope that her death would help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Lee was fatally stabbed at 12:10 a.m. on May 5 while walking along a sidewalk near a university in Wolgye-dong, Gwangju. The suspect, Jang Yoon-gi, was arrested on charges of murdering Lee and attempting to murder another 17-year-old male student who came to her aid.