Chef Jeong Chang-wook, Assault and Weapon Threat... 10-Month Prison Sentence in First Trial

Providing Opportunity for Settlement with Victim... Avoiding Court Detention

Chef Jung Chang-wook is attending the sentencing trial of Courtroom 1 held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Famous chef Jung Chang-wook (42), who was prosecuted for threatening and assaulting colleagues with a weapon, was sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial.

On the 21st, Judge Heo Jeong-in of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 17 sentenced Jung, who was charged with special intimidation and other offenses, to 10 months in prison. The court pointed out, "The victims suffered considerable psychological shock from this incident, and the trauma does not seem to disappear easily." It added, "Although the defendant deposited a certain amount through a law firm, it is difficult to consider the damage recovered, and the victims continue to petition for severe punishment of the defendant."

However, the court did not detain Jung in court, stating that it would give him an opportunity to reach a settlement with the victims. Jung is accused of assaulting A and B, who were helping with filming, after finishing a YouTube shoot in Hawaii, USA, in August last year, because he was angry, and threatening them by pointing a weapon at them or stabbing it into a desk. It was also investigated that Jung threatened A with a weapon and cursed in anger during an argument related to YouTube filming at a restaurant in Seoul in June last year.

After the incident became known, Jung posted an apology on social media, stating, "This is clearly my fault. I will make efforts to restore the damages to the two parties involved. I will sincerely comply with and face the judgment of the judicial authorities."

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