"What Studying at Your Age"... Man In His 70s Tries To Set Fire After Wife Says She Will Go To University

Longstanding dissatisfaction over wife's studies

A man in his 70s who tried to set his home on fire because he disapproved of his wife's desire to study has received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial.

According to Yonhap News on February 12, the Busan District Court Criminal Division 6, presided over by Senior Judge Kim Yonggyun, sentenced Mr. A the previous day (11th) to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of attempted arson of an occupied building.

Mr. A was charged with placing cardboard boxes and other items in the master bedroom and setting them on fire with a lighter at around 12:20 a.m. on September 22 last year at his home in Yeonje District, Busan, after arguing while drinking with his wife, Ms. B, also in her 70s, who said she wanted to go to university and study. Fortunately, Ms. B discovered the fire, smothered it with a blanket, and put it out with water, so only part of the bedroom floor was scorched. Mr. A was reportedly displeased that Ms. B was studying at such an advanced age.

Judge Kim stated, "Arson is a serious crime that not only undermines public safety and peace, but also carries a high risk of causing harm to the lives, bodies, or property of many people, so the culpability is not light."

However, he explained that he took into account in sentencing that Mr. A admitted to the crime and showed remorse, that the offense appears to have been committed impulsively, and that the victim does not wish the defendant to be punished.

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