Another Korean man has died following a brutal attack, marking the second such incident in the Los Angeles area within the past month.
According to the LA County Medical Examiner and the victim’s family, 44-year-old Chonghwan Yun was found dead on a park bench near Inglewood on the morning of August 5. The coroner’s report stated that Yun died from “blunt head trauma” resulting from an assault.
It was reported that Yun had visited a park in South LA over the weekend, where he was attacked by an unknown male. He was found dead the following day.
In a phone interview with the Korea Daily on August 18, Yun’s mother recounted, “The detective told me that my son went to a park near Inglewood on August 4, where he encountered a group of three to four strangers. One of them repeatedly punched my son in the face, causing him to collapse on the spot.”
She continued, “The video footage from the scene shows my son lying on the ground with his face swollen. After regaining consciousness, he sat on a bench, and people approached him, seemingly offering water and asking if he was okay. However, he remained on the bench and was found dead early the next morning.”
The police are currently seeking assistance from the public in locating the suspect responsible for the attack on Yun. His mother, who traveled from Texas to LA upon hearing the news of her son’s death, has since returned to her home in Longview, near Dallas, after cooperating with the police investigation.
“I’m having a really hard time and haven’t been able to sleep,” she said. “The police are investigating, but the suspect has not been caught yet. My son’s funeral will be held in Longview.”
Meanwhile, the LAPD is also urging the public to provide any information regarding the recent death of 19-year-old Joonhee Han, who succumbed to brain injuries following an assault. The LAPD released a statement on August 16, stating that they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Han’s death, which they believe resulted from a random attack in Koreatown on July 18.
[Korean-American teen dies after 5 days in a coma, victim of random assault in Koreatown]
Han was assaulted near Serrano Avenue in Koreatown around 4:30 p.m. on July 18. He was later found unconscious near 8th and Mariposa on July 23 and was transported to a hospital, where he eventually passed away.
Anyone with information about Yun’s case can call (213-458-2647), and for Han’s case, call (213-382-9470).
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, KYEONGJUN KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
