High School Student Charged with Maximum Sentence Under Juvenile Law for Assaulting Classmate Disguised as Sparring

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] One of two high school students who left a classmate in a coma through school violence disguised as martial arts 'sparring' has been sentenced to the maximum penalty under the Juvenile Act.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 21st at the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Ho Seong-ho), the prosecution requested a prison term of 9 years minimum to 4 years maximum for A (17), who was indicted on charges of serious injury and trespassing in a shared residence under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes, and 10 years minimum to 5 years maximum for his accomplice B (17).

According to the Juvenile Act, minors under the age of 19 who commit crimes can be sentenced to an indeterminate sentence with upper and lower limits divided into long-term and short-term terms. After serving the short-term sentence, they may be evaluated by correctional authorities and possibly released early before the long-term sentence expires.

The statutory maximum sentence for imprisonment under the Juvenile Act is 10 years minimum to 5 years maximum.

In his final statement, A said, "I have reflected deeply and feel remorseful in detention," adding, "I will accept my punishment and live sincerely for the rest of my life."

A’s lawyer stated, "We will omit the defense to avoid debating the degree of involvement or the details of the assault with B," and requested leniency within the limits allowed by law, considering A’s young age of 16 and lack of prior criminal record, while pledging efforts to compensate the victim.

A petition demanding severe punishment for the perpetrators who committed school violence against the son. Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition capture.

B also said, "This is a crime I can never be forgiven for, so I will live with a sense of guilt and remorse."

However, B’s lawyer claimed, "He did not conspire with A from one week before the crime," and "While not denying the charges, it was not a premeditated crime."

The father of the victim, C (17), said in court, "Even in this desperate situation where there is a high possibility my son will live with paralysis on one side, he smiled every time we made eye contact," and asked, "Why did this kind child have to suffer such a thing?"

He continued, "One minute of assault would be long enough, but (A and others) continued to assault my son for 2 hours and 40 minutes," and tearfully said, "I don’t understand what my son did wrong to be beaten to the point of brain hemorrhage."

He added, "When my son was first at the hospital, he was confused and had no memory," and appealed for strict punishment, saying, "I hope this trial shows how severe and heavy the law is against students who commit school violence."

The prosecution also requested a prison sentence of 1 year and 6 months minimum to 10 months maximum for D (17), B’s girlfriend, who is charged with trespassing in a shared residence at the apartment community sports facility where the crime took place.

A and the other two were indicted on charges of breaking into the residents’ community sports facility in an apartment in Jung-gu, Incheon, around 3 p.m. on November 28 last year, and severely assaulting their classmate C.

Investigations revealed that they made C wear a head guard under the pretense of martial arts sparring, then alternately assaulted and neglected him for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

A testified, "B and I wore different gloves and hit the victim," but B claimed, "We shared one glove, taking turns using it at the end of each round."

They entered the closed apartment sports facility by entering the password and committed the crime secretly.

This case became known after the victim’s parents posted a plea for severe punishment of the perpetrators on the Blue House National Petition Board on December 15 last year, which received over 370,000 signatures.

C suffered severe head injuries and was in a coma but woke up after about a month; however, he remains unable to live a normal life.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.