Elementary Students Threw Scooter from 15th Floor of Apartment but 'No Punishment Possible'

Three Elementary School Boys Throwing Someone Else's Kickboard
Under 10-Year-Old Juvenile Delinquents Not Subject to Criminal Punishment
"What Are Parents Teaching?" Residents Complain

Three male elementary school students under the age of 10, classified as juvenile delinquents, threw someone else's kickboard from a high floor.

The Gimpo Police Station in Gyeonggi announced on the 3rd, "On the 27th of last month, around 5:40 PM, we apprehended three lower-grade elementary school students, including boy A, who threw a kickboard from the 15th floor of an apartment in Janggi-dong, Gimpo."

This incident first came to light after a post appeared online stating, "The kickboard fell near a playground where children are actively playing and where residents frequently pass by." The author said, "Fortunately, there were no casualties, but CCTV footage confirmed that the culprits were children around 2nd or 3rd grade in elementary school. Although the act of throwing the kickboard was not recorded, the three took our kickboard, rode the elevator up, and got off on the 15th floor."

They continued, "We found out about this the next day and reported it to the police, and are currently waiting for contact. We know the children won't be punished, but they themselves will understand better. We worry that this confidence might lead them to commit even worse acts." They also expressed concern, saying, "Earlier this year, cup noodles were dropped from the same building and line in the apartment. There is no evidence that the same children did it, but we worry that the cup noodles incident has escalated to the kickboard incident. At an age when they need care and guidance, we don't know what their parents are teaching them."

The police conducting the investigation stated, "All three, including boy A, have been confirmed as juvenile delinquents," and added, "They have all been handed over to their parents." According to Article 9 of the Criminal Act, children under the age of 10 are classified as juvenile delinquents and are excluded from all criminal punishments, including protective measures. Because they are still young, no legal sanctions can be imposed, and the only option is to admonish the individuals and their guardians. However, although they are not subject to criminal punishment, their parents cannot avoid civil liability. If damages caused by minors are proven to have a significant causal relationship with the breach of supervisory duty by the guardians, under Articles 750 (Contents of Tort) and 755 (Liability of Supervisors of Incapable Persons) of the Civil Act, guardians can be held liable for damages.

Netizens responded with comments such as, "They know they won't be punished, so they do such things," "This is really cunning and dangerous behavior," and "Correcting this behavior at a young age can prevent them from becoming bigger criminals."

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