'Western District Court Riot': Man Who Threw Bricks and Smashed Windows Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months in Prison

A man in his 30s who participated in the Western District Court riot and broke the court’s windows has been sentenced to prison.

The signboard at the back gate of the court is fallen after the riot at the Western District Court. Photo by Yonhap News

On June 12, Judge Heo Junseo, presiding judge of Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Western District Court, sentenced Cho (30) to two years and six months in prison on charges including special destruction of public property and special trespassing of a building.

Judge Heo stated, "Attacking the court by illegal means simply because the court's ruling differs from one's own views cannot be tolerated," and added, "The defendant's actions are highly blameworthy and the severity of the crime is great, so a heavy sentence is unavoidable."

Cho was found to have thrown bricks and broken the duty office window with a bag containing a fire extinguisher outside the wall of the Western District Court on January 19, immediately after the arrest warrant was issued for former President Yoon Sukyeol. He also entered the first-floor lobby of the court.

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