Man in His 30s Sentenced to 3 Years and 6 Months for Breaking Windows and Damaging Property During Western District Court Disturbance

A man in his 30s who broke into the court and damaged property during the disturbance at the Western District Court has been sentenced to prison.

On August 20, Judge Kim Minjeong of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced Lee (35), who was indicted on charges including special trespassing of a building, to three years and six months in prison.

Judge Kim stated, "The defendant, along with numerous protest participants, violently entered the interior of the court building, broke windows, and destroyed court facilities such as CCTV storage devices and entry gates. Based on various pieces of evidence, it is clear that the defendant used the crowd to commit and incite violence."

She continued, "It is also recognized that prior to the crime, the defendant responded affirmatively to an acquaintance who asked whether the atmosphere would turn riotous if a warrant was issued, indicating that he was inwardly prepared to participate in riotous acts. Our society cannot tolerate actions that seek to undermine liberal democracy."

However, Judge Kim added that she took into consideration the fact that Lee had no prior criminal record and was a first-time offender.

Lee was brought to trial on charges of breaking into the Western District Court and smashing the court's windows with a police shield on January 19, immediately after the arrest of former President Yoon.

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