A New Zealand mother has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in prison for the murder of her two children, six-year-old Minu Jo and eight-year-old Yuna Jo. Hakyung Lee was found guilty of killing her children in 2018 and concealing their bodies in suitcases until they were discovered in 2022.
The sentencing, which took place in Auckland, includes compulsory mental health treatment under New Zealand’s law. Justice Geoffrey Venning stated that Lee would begin her sentence in a secure psychiatric facility and return to prison once deemed fit. Despite claims of mental illness and isolation, the judge emphasized that Lee’s actions were premeditated and intentional.
During the trial, it was revealed that Lee administered antidepressant medication to her children, resulting in their deaths. Her mental state reportedly deteriorated following the loss of her husband, prompting her to flee to South Korea and change her identity.
Family members expressed profound grief over the tragedy, with the children’s uncle expressing regret for not being able to protect them. Lee’s mother also shared her anguish, describing the pain as unbearable and something that may never fade.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua expressed condolences to the family, noting that the children would have been teenagers today. The automatic penalty for murder in New Zealand is life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 10 years. Cooperation from South Korean authorities was acknowledged in the investigation.