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Police are acknowledging the sentence handed down to Auckland woman Hakyung Lee, after she murdered her two young children in 2018.
Counties Manukau Police’s criminal investigation branch commenced Operation Curb three years ago, after remains were discovered in suitcases on August 11, 2022, in Weymouth.
Police would later confirm they were Lee’s eight-year-old daughter, Yuna Jo and six-year-old son, Minu Jo.
“I want to acknowledge the investigation team for what was a challenging investigation after the remains of two young children were discovered,” Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua says.
“They worked diligently to bring about justice for these innocent young children.”
Today at the Auckland High Court, Lee, 45, received a sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of imprisonment of 17 years.
Adding to the complexities was that Lee had left New Zealand after murdering her children and relocated to South Korea.
Police applied to have Lee extradited back to New Zealand in 2022, Va’aelua says.
“We acknowledge the assistance provided in our investigation by the South Korean Ministry of Justice, South Korean Prosecution Service, the Korean National Police Agency, and our own New Zealand Police Interpol staff.
“Their co-operation has been vital in helping to secure these convictions.”
Yuna and Minu would have been 16 and 13 today.
“Our thoughts are with the wider family today for the tragic loss of these two young children,” Va’aelua says.
