'BB Gun Threat' Former Gwangbokhoe Chairman Jang Ho-gwon Also Fined 3 Million Won in Second Trial

"Enough to Cause Anxiety"

Jang Ho-gwon, former president of the Liberation Association (Gwangbokhoe) (75), who was prosecuted for threatening a member of the Liberation Association with a BB gun, was sentenced to a fine again in the appellate court.

Former Jang Ho-kwon, President of the Liberation Association
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 11th, the Criminal Appeals Division 1 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Maeng Hyun-mu) announced that it sentenced former President Jang, who was charged with special intimidation, to a fine of 3 million won, the same as in the first trial.

Judge Maeng stated, "Seeing the defendant holding a BB gun, the secretary-general hurriedly rushed out to stop him, which seems to indicate that the defendant's actions could be perceived as threatening to the other party," adding, "From the perspective of an ordinary person, it was sufficient to cause anxiety and fear." He further added, "BB guns must have an orange component attached to the muzzle part to prevent confusion with real guns, but the BB gun the defendant held had this component removed."

Former President Jang is accused of taking out a BB gun from his bag and threatening a member during an argument over collusion suspicions that arose during the Liberation Association presidential election at the Gwangbokhoe office in Yeouido, Seoul, in June 2022.

Jang is the eldest son of independence activist Jang Jun-ha. He was elected president of the Liberation Association in May 2022 but was suspended from his duties in October of the same year due to allegations of election fraud and the BB gun threat incident.

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