Jindo Dog and Owner Beaten During Walk with Threats to "Eat the Dog"... 40-Year-Old Sentenced to Prison

Suspected of Firing Toy Gun While Looking Down at Smoker from Apartment Veranda

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A man in his 40s who was prosecuted for assaulting a pet owner and their dog during a walk, saying "Dogs should be eaten," has been sentenced to prison.

According to the court on the 14th, Judge Chae Heein of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced A (49, male), who was charged with special assault and assault, to four months in prison on the 9th.

Earlier, A was prosecuted for assaulting B (61, female), who was walking two Jindo dogs around 10:40 a.m. on December 24 last year in Andong-si, Gyeongbuk.

At the time, A reportedly followed B while she was walking and without any particular reason said, "Dogs should be eaten," repeatedly kicked the heads and abdomens of the Jindo dogs, and assaulted B by kicking her buttocks several times while she tried to stop him, also verbally abusing her.

A was also charged with special assault for firing a toy gun without reason at C (49, male), who was smoking in the parking lot, from the veranda of his apartment where he lived around 8:10 a.m. the next day.

He fired several plastic bullets at C, and it was confirmed that one of the shots hit the back of C's head.

A was found to have multiple prior convictions for violent crimes.

Article 260, Paragraph 1 of the current Criminal Act stipulates that "If a person assaults another person's body, they shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine not exceeding 5 million won," defining the crime of assault.

Also, Article 261 of the same law states that for special assault, "If several people show force or carry dangerous objects to commit assault, they shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine not exceeding 10 million won."

The first trial found all of A's charges guilty. Judge Chae stated, "The victims appear to have suffered considerable emotional distress due to the defendant's sudden crime, and they hope for punishment of the defendant."

He also explained, "Considering multiple factors such as the defendant's prior convictions for assault, age, behavior, mental state, family relationships, and circumstances after the crime, the sentence was determined comprehensively."

A appealed the ruling.