Park Sang-hak Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term in First Trial for Assaulting Reporters

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Park Sang-hak (53), head of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, who was prosecuted for assaulting broadcasting reporters, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

On the 12th, Judge Shim Tae-gyu of the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 1 sentenced Park, who was charged with injury, special injury, obstruction of official duties, and violation of the Firearms and Ammunition Act, to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension.

Regarding the assault on the reporters, the court pointed out, "It is difficult to accept the defendant's claim that the special injury was self-defense or that the degree exceeded the limits of self-defense, thus constituting innocence." Concerning the charge of spraying a gas gun at a police officer, the court stated, "The defendant was not in a position to reprimand the police officer" and "He assaulted the officer under a mistaken belief without reasonable grounds."

However, the court explained the sentencing reasons by comprehensively considering "the fact that the defendant had previously received death threats from North Korea and that the broadcasting station staff who visited the defendant entered the shared entrance without permission and attempted to conduct an interview through illegal means."

Park was prosecuted for assaulting SBS reporters who visited his home in Songpa-gu, Seoul, around 9 p.m. on June 23 last year by throwing bricks and spraying a gas gun at police officers who tried to restrain him.

Meanwhile, Park is also under investigation for illegally distributing leaflets to North Korea (violations of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, etc.).

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