Unanswered Questions investigates the hidden truth behind a shocking case of confinement and assault that unfolded in a quiet rural village.
The January 31 broadcast examines a weeklong ordeal of confinement and violence, along with allegations that another figure was involved behind the scenes, revealing a case that defies easy explanation.
The incident began on the night of April 8 last year on a dark country road in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. An elderly woman in her 80s, identified as Jeong Geum-ja (alias), was discovered by a local resident and urgently asked for help. She reportedly showed severe anxiety at the time, and her facial condition was visibly serious.
After being transported to the hospital, Jeong was found to have bruises covering her body, with fractures confirmed in her face and ribs. She told investigators that she had been confined for a week at her son’s home and had narrowly escaped when supervision loosened. The shock deepened when the alleged perpetrator was identified as her own 29-year-old grandson.
The grandson, identified as Go Seon-woo (alias), reportedly repeated incomprehensible statements such as “Grandmother is a sinner” during the assault. Having previously cared for Jeong devotedly, his sudden change raised further questions. Following the incident, he was detained at a correctional facility, refusing family visits and maintaining a prolonged silence.
That silence was broken after a first-instance court ruling last month, in which he was sentenced to three years in prison on charges including aggravated confinement and injury of a lineal ascendant. In a letter sent from prison to his family, he acknowledged his wrongdoing but claimed he had acted out of fear, alleging that he had been threatened by others.
The letter mentioned a shaman in her 40s, identified as Park (alias), and a man in his 50s known to be her partner, identified as Pyo (alias). He claimed their threats caused extreme fear and pressure. Both Park and Pyo have strongly denied the allegations, calling them one-sided claims made by the grandson.
Based on the grandson’s confession and conflicting statements from those involved, the production team explores whether there may be another hidden link behind what initially appeared to be a straightforward case of familial violence. They closely examine the relationships among the individuals named, as well as suspicious points in their communications and movements before and after the incident.
Findings uncovered during the investigation have only intensified the mystery. The grandson reportedly repeated specific names while stating that he feared retaliation if he told the truth. Those implicated, however, have dismissed the claims as “absurd,” leading to a tense confrontation over what truly happened.
The week of terror endured by an elderly victim, the brutal violence committed within a family, and allegations of outside involvement have pushed the case beyond ordinary domestic abuse into a disturbing mystery. Questions remain as to how much of the grandson’s account is true and who may be concealing the facts.
The production team reconstructs the puzzle through interviews with those involved, court records, and on-site inquiries around the scene. The broadcast will also reveal, for the first time, details from the grandson’s prison letter and testimonies from people connected to the case.
Meanwhile, Jeong is reportedly still undergoing treatment, adding to the tragedy. Through this episode, the program seeks to raise awareness of similar crimes and move one step closer to uncovering the full truth.
A week of confinement, incomprehensible violence, and allegations of a hidden force behind it all.
SBS’s Unanswered Questions airs at 11:10 p.m. on January 31.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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