Teenager Who Repeatedly Assaulted Girlfriend Avoids Criminal Punishment... "In a State of Immature Judgment"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] A teenager who assaulted his girlfriend and her father, causing injuries, because his girlfriend refused to meet him, has been sent to the family court juvenile division.

On the 31st, the 1st Criminal Division of the Pohang Branch of Daegu District Court (Judge Sunhyang Kwon) announced that it had decided to transfer A (17), who was indicted on six charges including special intimidation, violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory injury, etc.), and injury, to the family court juvenile division. Although A avoided criminal punishment and received protective measures such as community service orders or transfer to a juvenile detention center, there were criticisms that the punishment was lenient compared to the severity of the crime.

A is accused of going to the home of victim B (17) in Nam-gu, Pohang City, around 1 a.m. on July 4 last year, carrying a weapon and causing a disturbance by shouting for two hours. It was investigated that A committed this crime after B, with whom he had been dating for about 200 days, notified him of their breakup.

A sent threatening messages to B, including statements such as "I will climb up through your window," "I will cause a disturbance at your school or workplace," and "I will kill you." After learning that B had reported him to the police, A went to B and inflicted injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment. Additionally, A is accused of assaulting B by grabbing her hair while she was going to school and also assaulting B’s father (47), who arrived at the scene after hearing about the incident, causing injuries such as cerebral hemorrhage and fractures.

The court stated, "The defendant has a prior record of being sent to juvenile protection for special injury after hitting B’s head with a soju bottle on May 29," but added, "The defendant is currently a 17-year-old youth in the process of personality development and committed the crime somewhat impulsively due to immature judgment." The court further noted, "Considering that the defendant deeply reflects on his wrongdoing and that his family and acquaintances have submitted written pledges for protection and guidance, we make this ruling after comprehensively reviewing various circumstances."

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