Korean-American jewelry mogul kills wife, daughter, then himself in Rolling Hills

A tragedy took place in Rolling Hills on August 23, and the news reverberated through the Korean American community in Los Angeles in the days that followed. Se-Cheol Cheon, 72, founder of Ruby Jewelry, fatally shot his wife Myung-Sook Cheon, 69, and younger daughter Christine Cheon, 40, before turning the gun on himself.

Deputies arrived after a call from his elder daughter, who reported her father and sister were dead. Inside the home, investigators found the victims with gunshot wounds and a handgun near Cheon’s body. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Cheon had first tried to hang himself and, when that failed, shot himself.

Cheon’s career was once celebrated as an immigrant success story. Beginning with a small showcase in downtown Los Angeles in 1984, he built Ruby Jewelry into one of the city’s largest wholesalers, supplying thousands of retailers. He expanded into real estate and investment firms, with assets estimated at $200 million. Colleagues remembered him as generous, often helping other Korean Americans start in the jewelry trade.

Yet the image of success concealed a household in turmoil. For nearly two years, Cheon and his wife were locked in a bitter divorce. Court records show the couple filed in August 2023, and a year later, Myung-Sook filed an assault complaint that led to a restraining order. Friends said Cheon had recently spoken of tense negotiations over alimony. At the time of the killings, he lived apart in Koreatown, while his wife and daughters remained in the Rolling Hills home.

This conflict, long unresolved, ended in irreversible violence.
The Cheon case is shocking, but it is not isolated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41% of women and 26% of men in the United States have experienced violence in an intimate relationship. Such abuse often leaves survivors battling depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other serious mental health challenges.

Dr. Man-Chul Cho, president of the Korean American Psychiatric Association, explained that divorce disputes often magnify anger and resentment. “When conflicts involve money, betrayal, or honor, the risks of escalation grow more severe,” he said. “If a restraining order is in place, that sense of injustice can intensify, making tragedy more likely.”

The Korean American community faces unique barriers. Hyun-Hee Kim, director of victim services at Korean American Family Services, noted that domestic violence counseling cases have surged by about 30% since the pandemic. Still, many victims remain reluctant to report abuse. “They feel ashamed to tell others or call police,” Kim said. “Too often, they simply hope the violence will stop.”

The Rolling Hills tragedy shows how quickly family conflict can spiral when warning signs are ignored. Escalating arguments, controlling behavior, threats, and any form of physical harm should never be dismissed as private or temporary. These are clear indicators that intervention is needed.
Help can come in many forms: counseling, confiding in a trusted friend, seeking guidance from community or religious leaders, or contacting law enforcement.

For those who feel unsafe, even asking a friend to check in or call police if contact is lost can be lifesaving. Confidential services such as the Korean American Family Services Hotline (888-979-3800) provide support and guidance in Korean and English, offering a safe and accessible way to seek help before conflict escalates into tragedy.

By Mooyoung Lee [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]