Jang and the victim had been in a 15-year-long adulterous relationship. The incident took place at Jang’s bar in Dongdaemun, central Seoul, in August 2013.

The victim was hospitalized for five days before dying of second-to third-degree burns on 66 percent of his body.

Jang appealed the charges brought against her, claiming that although she poured kerosene and thrusted a piece of paper lit with fire toward the victim, she did not actually set the victim on fire.

The appeals court upheld the original verdict of 12 years’ imprisonment based on statements the victim had made before his death. The anti-adultery law was nullified in Korea in 2015.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)