Iowa College Professor Snaps, Strangles Husband to Death

Sun Woo Nam abused his wife, Gowun Park, so frequently that he told her to tie him up if he became aggressive so he could not hurt her. She did just that one evening in 2020, leading to Nam’s death.

Park and Nam relocated from South Korea to the U.S. over 20 years ago. Park held a Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and a Ph.d she earned from several different universities; she worked as an economics professor at Simpson College in Des Moines, Iowa.

Little is known about Nam and Park’s relationship before that February day. Coworkers at the college said they didn’t even know Park was married; she never spoke of a husband and told them her family lived in Korea.

Sun Woo Nam Unconscious

On February 15, 2020, at 6:46 p.m., Park called 9-1-1 saying that her husband was not breathing.

Paramedics found Nam unresponsive with no vital signs. He had ligature marks around his neck, wrist, ankle, and face. 

Park, crying hysterically and nearly unconsolable, told two female officers at the scene that she found her husband tied up and lying face down on the floor when she woke from a nap. She claimed he had been suicidal in the past.

Nam was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. It was later determined his cause of death was “strangulation.”

Police transported Park to the station hoping they could find out more about what had occurred in the apartment that day. Park maintained her story about her husband tying himself up. She added that in the past, he told her to tie him up to prevent him from hurting her -but not on this night.

She was let go without charge.

Park Changes Her Story

Park was interviewed several times before police finally charged her with Nam’s murder.

She eventually changed her story and told police that her husband had lashed out at her earlier in the day, leading her to tie him to a chair and place a towel in his mouth and another over his head. Park then wrapped duct tape securely over the towel and Nam’s head.

Without fear Nam would attack her, and free from the annoying sound of his voice, Park poured herself a glass of champagne and sat down on the couch to watch television.

She fell asleep at some point, she told police, and when she woke up, her husband was lying face down on the floor with the chair on top of him. She cut Nam loose and called for help.

Park Convicted of Murder

In April 2024, Park pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, third-degree kidnapping, and domestic abuse -assault by choking causing bodily injury. Before learning she was sentenced to 25 years in prison with 10 to serve, Park stated:

“I carry sincere grief and regret for my husband’s death,” adding, “I did not want to hurt him. I loved him.”

She is incarcerated at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women with a tentative parole eligibility date in 2028.

Love shouldn't hurt. Everyone deserves a relationship free of violence. If you need help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential help 24/7. Call them toll-free at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit their website below.

Sources:

https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/15350/embed/SupremeCourtOpinion

https://www.koreadailyus.com/korean-american-professor-who-murdered-husband-sentenced-10-years-in-prison/

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