“That’s something only beasts would do” ... The judge scolded the students who committed group assault

Ulsan District Court.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “That’s something only animals do!” The judge scolded the students loudly.

On the day four teenage perpetrators who collectively assaulted a foreign-national middle school girl in Yangsan, Gyeongnam last year were sentenced to juvenile detention, the judge reportedly shouted in court.

According to Ulsan Family Court and the victim’s legal representatives on the 21st, Juvenile Court Judge Lee Hyun-jung sentenced the four students accused of assault and other charges to short-term juvenile detention of up to six months.

In court, Judge Lee asked the perpetrators, “Did you hit her without any thought?” When the students answered “Yes,” the judge said, “That’s something only animals do.”

The legal representatives reported, “The judge unusually scolded them loudly and told them to reflect on their actions, and the perpetrators bowed their heads and shed tears,” describing the courtroom scene.

Yangsan Police Station sent two middle school students to the prosecution in October last year on charges of joint assault under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes. The other two were classified as juvenile offenders (criminal minors) and referred to the Juvenile Division of Ulsan District Court.

In July last year, the four forced a Mongolian middle school girl, A, to drink alcohol at a house in Yangsan City, tied her hands and feet, and slapped her multiple times. They also stripped her and filmed the assault on video.

Police investigations revealed that the abuse lasted for six hours. A was living with the perpetrators while in a runaway state.