South Korea's Police chief vows thorough probe into assault on Vietnamese woman

Min Gap-ryong, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency (Yonhap)

Min Gap-ryong, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, made the remarks during his talks with To Lam, Vietnamese minister of public security, in Seoul.

The high-profile case made headlines in both countries over the weekend, after a two-minute, 33-second video went viral of a 36-year-old Korean man punching and kicking his Vietnamese wife and even hitting her with an empty soju bottle. Their two-year-old son was seen crying close to the couple.

The man, a resident of Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, about 390-kilometer south of Seoul, reportedly beat his wife for three hours last Thursday for not speaking Korean well before being put under emergency detention.

An acquaintance of the Vietnamese woman reported the case to the police, Friday, saying the man attacked her because of her poor Korean. Upon receiving the report, police separated the woman and her son from the man and put them up at a shelter.

According to the police, the Korean committed the assault while intoxicated and the victim sustained injuries that will require over four weeks to recover. She is now receiving treatment at a hospital.

Right after summoning and questioning the alleged attacker, the police requested an arrest warrant, citing the gravity of the case and possible retaliation.

A captured photo shows a South Korean man beating up his Vietnamese wife. (Yonhap)

Min mentioned the assault case during his meeting with Lam, the first Vietnamese public security minister to visit South Korea in seven years.

"It is very regrettable that a Vietnamese marriage migrant woman has recently been victimized by domestic violence. I promise a thorough investigation and rehabilitation for the victim," Min said.

Min and Lam also discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in public security.

Min expressed hope that both countries strengthen cooperative investigations and expand cooperation for the arrest and repatriation of criminal fugitives through Interpol.

"South Korea looks forward to cooperating more closely with Vietnam in the fight against international crimes, such as illicit drugs, cybercrimes and terrorism," Min said.

The Vietnamese woman first started dating the Korean three years ago, but returned to Vietnam pregnant, according to police. Reunited last month, they have lived together since then.

However, the man was said to have often sworn at her after drinking, berating her language skills, and late last month, she was also allegedly beaten.

VNF/Yonhap