Watching Commute and Shouting "I Love You"... 50-Year-Old Man Stalking Tenant

Court: "Continuously and Repeatedly Stalking the Victim"

A man in his 50s who stalked female tenants was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A man in his 50s, the son of a landlord who repeatedly stalked a female tenant by shouting "I love you," was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

On the 30th, the Changwon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kim Min-sang) announced that Mr. A (52), who was tried for violating the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 1-year suspension. Additionally, probation and 40 hours of a stalking treatment program were ordered.

Since July 2021, Mr. A followed the victim, Ms. B (50), as she left for work from a house in Changwon, Gyeongnam, and watched her from the first floor or rooftop of the house when she returned home. After Ms. B arrived home, he repeatedly shouted "I love you" from the first floor or rooftop.

Between August and September of the same year, he sent about 20 text messages and KakaoTalk messages containing "I love you," and also left love letters near the outdoor air conditioner unit in front of Ms. B's house.

The court stated, "The defendant continuously or repeatedly stalked the victim," but also considered "the absence of violations after the incident, the fact that this is a first offense, and the defendant's remorse."