Two High School Students Face Up to 8 Years in Prison for Assaulting Classmates Under the Pretext of 'Sparing'

"Martial Arts Practice" Classmate Assault... Long-term 8 Years to Short-term 4 Years Imprisonment Sentenced
Court: "Learned Boxing, Skilled in Fighting... Crime Committed Under the Pretext of Practice"

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] Two high school students were sentenced to heavy prison terms for assaulting a classmate and leaving him in critical condition under the pretext of martial arts sparring.

The 13th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Hoseong Ho) on the 21st sentenced A (17) and accomplice B (17), who were indicted on charges of serious injury and joint trespassing under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Violence Crimes, to prison terms of 8 years as the upper limit and 4 years as the lower limit, respectively.

Additionally, C (17), B’s girlfriend, who was charged with secretly entering the apartment community sports facility where the crime took place (joint trespassing under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Violence Crimes), was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

According to the Juvenile Act, minors under the age of 19 who commit crimes can be sentenced to indeterminate sentences with upper and lower limits divided into long-term and short-term terms. After serving the short-term sentence, they can be evaluated by correctional authorities and released before the long-term sentence expires. The statutory maximum sentence for imprisonment under the Juvenile Act is 10 years long-term and 5 years short-term.

The court explained regarding A and B, "The defendants, known as bullies, had learned boxing and were skilled fighters, giving them an advantage over their peers. They demanded the victim to steal cup noodles or meet them at dawn, and when he did not comply, they committed the crime under the pretext of boxing practice." The court added, "The boxing practice was merely a justification unilaterally set by the defendants. The victim was brutally assaulted while wearing a head guard and nearly lost his life."

Furthermore, the court stated, "The victim has regained some language and motor skills but suffers from severe aftereffects requiring long-term rehabilitation and is unable to attend school normally. While the defendants bear heavy responsibility, their admission of guilt and juvenile status were taken into consideration."

Before the sentencing hearing, B’s lawyer requested a postponement to reach a settlement with the victim. However, the court rejected the request, stating, "The defendants’ detention period of six months is about to expire."

Previously, at the sentencing hearing held on the 21st of last month, the prosecution sought prison terms of 9 years long-term to 4 years short-term for A and 10 years long-term to 5 years short-term for B.

A and B were arrested and indicted for secretly entering the apartment community sports facility in Jung-gu, Incheon, last November and assaulting their classmate D (17). Investigations revealed that they forced D to wear a head guard under the pretense of martial arts practice and alternately assaulted him for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The case came to light after the victim’s parents posted a plea for severe punishment of the perpetrators on the Blue House National Petition Board. The petition received support from over 370,000 netizens.

D was unconscious due to a cerebral hemorrhage but regained consciousness after about a month. However, it is reported that he is still unable to live a normal life.

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