"How Would You Feel If Boiling Water Was Poured on Your Face?"... Husband in His 40s Tearfully Apologizes After Judge's Rebuke

Husband Pours Boiling Water on Thai Wife’s Face
Prosecutors Request Three-Year Prison Sentence

Prosecutors have requested a three-year prison sentence for a Korean husband who poured boiling water on the face of his Thai wife, causing her to suffer burns.

Thai wife who suffered burns. Facebook

According to Yonhap News Agency on March 10, at a trial held that day at the Uijeongbu District Court, Criminal Division 12, presided over by Judge Kim Junyoung, prosecutors requested a three-year prison sentence for Mr. A, a man in his 40s who was indicted on charges of aggravated assault.

Mr. A is accused of pouring boiling water from an electric kettle onto the face, neck, and other areas of his wife, Ms. B, a Thai national in her 30s, while she was asleep at their apartment in Howon-dong, Uijeongbu, around noon on December 3 last year. Ms. B’s side testified that immediately after the incident, Mr. A said, “I wanted to make your face unattractive because I was afraid you might meet another man,” and added, “I will take care of you, so please continue our relationship.” In response, Mr. A denied the charges during the investigation, stating, “I accidentally spilled the boiling water when I fell.”

However, during the trial that day, Mr. A bowed his head and admitted to all the charges. In his final statement, Mr. A tearfully said, “I hurt my wife, whom I cherish more than my own life,” and pleaded for leniency, stating, “I kneel to apologize to my wife, who forgave such a terrible husband. Please consider my son, who has been left alone, and my father, who is battling illness.”

A man in his 40s, Mr. A, accused of pouring boiling water on his Thai wife. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Mr. A’s side submitted a petition to the court stating that the victim, his wife, did not wish for him to be punished. However, when the judge rebuked him by asking, “How would you feel if someone poured boiling water on your face while you were sleeping?” Mr. A repeatedly bowed his head and tearfully apologized.

The judge attempted to directly confirm the victim’s true wishes, but was unable to do so as Ms. B did not appear in court. The court stated, “We will make a judgment based on the proceedings up to now, but will carry out further procedures if necessary,” and concluded the hearing. The sentencing is scheduled for April 7.

Meanwhile, the case became widely known after Ms. B shared the incident through a Thai Facebook group via an acquaintance immediately after it happened, and local media including The Thaiger reported on it. In particular, as public outrage among Thai people continued, about half of the approximately 10 million won required for medical expenses was covered by donations.

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