A 47-year-old South Korean national, based in Greater Noida was allegedly stabbed to death by his girlfriend at their Sector 150 flat in the early hours of Sunday following an argument.
Duck Hee Yuh of Cheongju-si in South Korea and Lunjeana Pamai (22) from Bishnupur in Manipur were in a live-in relationship and had been staying in a flat in ATS Pious Hideways.
The middle aged man who was employed with a logistics company in Greater Noida for the past 10 years was allegedly stabbed by his girlfriend after an argument over his drinking habits.
The woman reportedly called his driver and, along with him, took the bleeding man to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. She has been detained for questioning.
On Sunday morning, police received information about Hee’s death from the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), where he was taken after being stabbed.
“A team reached the hospital and learnt that the South Korean national was in a live-in relationship with his girlfriend for the past two years,” said Sudheer Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Greater Noida).
Initial investigations revealed that the couple had met at a party in Gurgaon before entering into the relationship. While Hee was employed in Greater Noida, Pamai was reportedly not working.
ADCP Kumar said Pamai had told cops that Hee had been drinking since Saturday morning, which angered her.
Sharing details, the official said, “According to her, Pamai tried to stop him from drinking between 3am and 4am. She asked him to have dinner and go off to sleep. But Hee became aggressive, which led to a heated argument between the two. It soon escalated into a physical fight, and Hee thrashed Pamai badly. In retaliation, she picked up a knife from the dining table and stabbed Hee a number of times in the chest.”
“Following the incident, as Hee slumped to the ground, Pamai called his driver, Mandeep Singh. She asked him to come to the flat. When Singh arrived early in the morning, Pamai told him everything,” he added.
Adding, he stated, “Singh called an ambulance and took Hee to hospital along with Pamai. By the time they reached GIMS, Hee had died. When his girlfriend came to know about Hee’s death, she quietly left the hospital without informing anyone.”
Hee’s family in South Korea has been informed and is on their way to Noida. Singh lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered against Pamai under Section 103 (murder) of the BNS at Knowledge Park police station.
Quoting the driver, another police officer said the couple fought frequently, often over “trivial matters”. Singh also referred to an incident last month when Hee allegedly became aggressive and abused his girlfriend.
“We have initiated an investigation into the sequence of events that led to the man’s murder. Pamai has been detained for further questioning,” the official said.
The tragic death of Duck Hee Yuh at the hands of his live-in girlfriend is a grim reminder that love across cultures, while enriching, can also bring hidden challenges. At first glance, the story is shocking, violence, alcohol, and a fatal outcome. But beyond the immediate horror lies a broader conversation about intercultural relationships and the potential friction that arises when two worlds collide under one roof.
Couples from different countries often start their relationships with excitement over novelty, their backgrounds, habits, or lifestyles feel intriguing rather than conflicting. Early on, differences like nationality, upbringing, or even language nuances may seem charming. In the case of Hee and Pamai, their initial bond began after meeting at a party in Gurgaon, a space where cultural differences likely appeared more playful than consequential.
However, living together reveals the subtle and sometimes jarring ways culture shapes daily life. A South Korean man may have deeply ingrained routines, perspectives, and expectations that differ from those of an Indian partner. Small disagreements—how to spend a weekend, approach conflicts, or handle habits like drinking—can escalate when neither partner fully understands the other’s mindset.
It’s important to stress that there is no justification for abuse or alcohol-fueled aggression. Violence is never acceptable. Yet, the underlying tension in many cross-cultural relationships often stems from mismatched expectations and worldviews.
This does not mean such relationships are doomed. Many intercultural couples navigate these differences successfully through communication, compromise, and empathy. But when a relationship lacks a foundation of mutual understanding, what starts as minor friction can escalate into recurring arguments, resentment, or, tragically, even violence.
The story of Hee and Pamai highlights that love across cultures requires patience, respect, and awareness of how deeply personal habits and cultural conditioning influence behavior. While their tragedy is extreme, it underscores that intercultural couples must consciously address differences before they become sources of conflict.
In the end, cultural diversity can enrich relationships, but it also demands effort, understanding, and above all, compassion—without which even love can turn deadly.
