'100 Manwon per Cigarette'... 20s Fined 4 Million Manwon for Secret Smoking in Prison

Smuggled in Through Sibling's Visit
Caught Secretly Smoking in Restroom

A man in his 20s who was caught smoking in prison after secretly bringing in cigarettes during a visit from his younger sibling was sentenced to a fine.

On the 26th, Yonhap News reported that Judge Kang Myeong-jung of the Chuncheon District Court Yeongwol Branch Criminal Division 1, acting alone, sentenced A (28), who was summarily indicted for violating the Act on the Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Prisoners, to a fine of 4 million won.

A, who was incarcerated at Yeongwol Prison for fraud, was tried for smoking one cigarette each around noon and 4 p.m. on June 3 of last year in the prison restroom located in Palgoe-ri, Yeongwol-eup, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, and then smoking two more cigarettes at the same place at 2 a.m. the following day. It was investigated that A had earlier asked his younger brother B to bring cigarettes during a prison visit on May 28 of the same year, hid the cigarettes given by his brother, and smoked them secretly. A, who was sentenced to two years in prison for fraud in September 2023 and was incarcerated at Daejeon Prison, was transferred to Yeongwol Prison in February of last year.

Prisoners are prohibited from possessing items that may threaten facility safety or order, such as alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, firearms, cash, and checks. A, who was disciplined for this incident, did not show remorse and claimed unfair treatment due to the disciplinary action. He also appealed the summary order by requesting a formal trial but ultimately received a fine equivalent to 1 million won per cigarette.

The court pointed out, "It is recognized that the defendant brought in cigarettes through a visit and smoked them," adding, "The crime is serious as it obstructs the execution of correctional administration within the detention facility and negatively influences other inmates." Regarding the sentencing, the court explained, "Since the defendant did not humbly accept the disciplinary action imposed due to his own fault and instead complained about being in an unfair situation due to the discipline, showing no signs of remorse, it is necessary to impose a strict punishment."

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