Kim Hyun-yang was born in South Korea in the early 1970s and grew up in working-class poverty. By his early twenties, he was already disillusioned with society and drawn into criminal behavior. Compared to other members of the Chijon Family, his background was less marked by prior convictions, but he shared the same resentment toward wealth and social inequality that leader Kim Gi-hwan exploited when forming the gang.

Hyun-yang met Gi-hwan and Moon Sang-rok in the summer of 1993 during a poker game. The three quickly bonded over shared bitterness toward the wealthy and their perception of systemic injustice in South Korea. Together, they created the foundation of what would later become known as the Chijon Family.

Kim Hyun-yang played a central role in the Chijon Family’s reign of terror between 1993 and 1994. He participated in the gang’s first murder on July 18, 1993, when they abducted Miss Choi, a 20-year-old farmer’s daughter. She was raped by multiple members, and Gi-hwan strangled her while Hyun-yang and others looked on. Later, he confessed that this act was treated as a rehearsal for future killings.

In August 1993, Hyun-yang was also involved in the internal execution of fellow gang member Song Bong-un, who attempted to flee with their money. Song was tracked down, shot in the head, and buried in a secluded location. This killing reinforced the gang’s second rule: betrayal must always be punished by death.

Hyun-yang’s presence was confirmed during the September 8, 1994 kidnapping and murder of Lee Jeong-su’s boyfriend, a musician who was mistakenly targeted for appearing wealthy. The man was suffocated while Hyun-yang stood guard, and Lee was repeatedly assaulted over the next several days.

Only a few days later, on September 13, 1994, Hyun-yang participated in the abduction of Mr. So and Mrs. Park, who were killed despite paying ransom money. The couple was executed, and members of the gang dismembered and partially incinerated their remains. Some members even engaged in ritualistic cannibalism, and Hyun-yang was implicated in overseeing and participating in these atrocities.

Throughout the gang’s operations, Hyun-yang was noted for his unwavering loyalty to Gi-hwan’s ideology. He was vocal about his hatred for the wealthy and fully embraced the gang’s violent doctrine. Unlike some younger members, he did not waver or express doubts.

The gang collapsed after survivor Lee Jeong-su escaped in September 1994 and informed police about their crimes. On September 19, 1994, Hyun-yang was arrested with the rest of the group after police lured them into a trap.

At trial, he showed no remorse. When speaking to reporters, he said his only regret was that the gang had not killed more wealthy people. He was convicted of multiple murders, kidnappings, and rapes, and sentenced to death on November 1, 1994.

On November 2, 1995, Hyun-yang was executed by hanging at Seoul Detention Center, along with Gi-hwan, Moon Sang-rok, and other male members of the Chijon Family.