"Sentenced to 12 Years for Torch Arson in Gangneung and Donghae by 60s Arsonist 'Ignored by Residents'"

The Court: "Victims Suffered Without Knowing Why... Corresponding Responsibility Must Be Held"

A man in his 60s who set fires in the Gangneung Ok-gye and Donghae areas was sentenced to a heavy punishment. Photo by Korea Forest Service (Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A man in his 60s who set fires in Ok-gye, Gangneung, Gangwon Province, and the Donghae area last March was sentenced to prison in the first trial. Investigations revealed that he, a resident of the area, committed the crime out of hostility toward the residents.

On the 9th, the Criminal Division 2 of the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch (Chief Judge Lee Dong-hee) sentenced Lee (60), who was indicted for violating the Forest Protection Act and other charges, to 12 years in prison.

Lee was arrested and indicted on charges of starting a forest fire with a torch around 1:07 a.m. on March 5 in Ok-gye-myeon. He initially set fire to his own house, vacant houses, and warehouses, then spread the fire to the forest, causing a large-scale wildfire. It is also known that Lee’s mother, A (86), died after falling while evacuating.

The wildfire caused by Lee burned six houses and 1,455 hectares of forest in the Gangneung area, resulting in property damage worth 11.1 billion KRW. In the Donghae area, 74 houses and 2,735 hectares of forest were reduced to ashes, causing damage worth approximately 28.3 billion KRW.

Lee, a resident of Namyang-ri, Ok-gye-myeon, admitted to the arson after being caught by the police, stating, "I committed the crime because the residents looked down on me." According to the police investigation, Lee was trapped in an isolated living environment and was consumed by paranoia, which led him to express accumulated hostility toward the residents in an extreme way, resulting in the crime.

The court stated, "The defendant harbored grievances and planned the crime in advance. The victims suffered significant damage without understanding the reason, and the damage has not been restored." It added, "He must be held accountable accordingly. Even considering his admission of the crime, a long-term prison sentence is inevitable."

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