A Man in His 50s Sentenced for Stalking a University Senior for 30 Years

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A man who stalked and threatened a woman he met in college for 30 years was sentenced to prison.

On the 2nd, Judge Park Soo-hyun of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 9 announced that Shin Mo (50), who was arrested and prosecuted on charges of sending dozens of threatening text messages after being rejected in his marriage proposal, was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison.

Shin first met senior A in college in 1991 and repeatedly demanded marriage, but was rejected. Unable to marry or date, Shin blamed everything on A and sent 38 threatening text messages over four years starting in 2016. The messages included phrases such as "My life has been miserably ruined because of your unfaithful pathetic self," and "I won't leave you alone." Shin had previously been punished four times, including a 10-month prison sentence for assaulting and threatening A.

The court pointed out, "Despite having been sentenced to prison for similar crimes, the defendant committed this offense again and continued to contact the victim even after a restraining order was issued."

Furthermore, the court sentenced him to prison, stating, "The victim must have suffered extreme mental distress due to the stalking, but the defendant shifts the responsibility onto the victim and does not sincerely repent for his actions."