DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa — EDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains details that may be disturbing to some.
Gowun Park, a former Simpson College economics professor, will spend a maximum of 10 years in prison for the death of her husband, Sung Woo Nam.
Park took an Alford Plea on Thursday, which means she does not admit guilt, but accepts the consequences of the crime.
Park pleaded guilty to:
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- 3rd Degree Kidnapping
- Domestic Abuse by Assault Impeding Air/Blood Flow Causing Bodily Injury
On Feb. 15, 2020, first responders were called to the home of Nam and Park. When they arrived, they found Nam lying face down on the floor.
Nam had his hands and feet tied up with zip ties and was bound with a rope to a chair. Nam later was pronounced dead from strangulation, and investigators say his death was ruled a homicide.
Park later admitted to investigators that she did tie him up, claiming she and Nam had an agreement. The agreement allegedly was that when Nam became violent, Park could tie him up.
After searching Park's phone, investigators found that Park took a video on her phone of Nam tied up prior to his death. That video was deleted two minutes before Park called 911.
In Park's plea hearing and sentencing on Thursday, the state and the defense showed evidence through text messages, emails and pictures that Nam and Park were in an abusive relationship.
It was an emotional courtroom, as Nam's family as been waiting four years with hopes of justice.
"The pain and anguish our family continue to endure since his tragic death have been torturous, for the last four years," Nam's sister said.
Nam's family spoke on his character, saying he was a kind, gentle person. They said that, in their perspective, Park and Nam's relationship isolated Nam from his family.
"I still sleep of sorrow and sheer pain of losing him," his mom said. "I miss my son so much."
Park addressed the court and took responsibility for her actions.
"I carry sincere grief and regret for my husband's death, I did not want to hurt him, I loved him," Park said.
Park originally faced up to 25 years in prison for all three counts, but the judge ordered her sentences to be served concurrently — meaning she could be in prison for up to 10 years.