Depositor Name 'Bamegasobulhaksya'... Stalker Deposited 1 Won 681 Times

607 Text Messages in One Month
Stalking, Violence, and Even Drugs... 1 Year and 6 Months Prison Sentence in Second Trial

Chief Judge Kim Cheong-mi of the Criminal Division 1 at Chuncheon District Court sentenced A (43), who committed crimes including stalking, to 1 year and 6 months in prison, a heavier sentence than the first trial. Photo by Chuncheon District Court exterior.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] A man in his 40s who, suspecting that a woman he met through an introduction was seeing another man, sent a terrifying "text bomb" and even committed violence against the introducer was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison.

According to the legal community on the 1st, Chief Judge Kim Cheongmi of the Criminal Division 1 at Chuncheon District Court handed down a heavier sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison to Mr. A (43) in the second trial appeal, compared to the 8 months imprisonment in the first trial.

Mr. A, while continuing a relationship with Ms. B, whom he met through an introduction last October, suspected that Ms. B was seeing another man and sent 607 text messages over about a month starting from December of the same year. Moreover, from mid-November last year to the end of January this year, he deposited 1 won 681 times into Ms. B's account, using the depositor's name to deliver threatening messages. Using depositor names such as "Let's talk," "Let's end it, call me," "Just wait," and "bamyeogaseobulhwakssa," he caused Ms. B to experience extreme anxiety and fear.

Mr. A's attacks were not limited to Ms. B. He mistakenly believed that Mr. C, an acquaintance who introduced Ms. B to him, had reintroduced Ms. B to another man and committed violence against Mr. C. On January 30th around midnight, Mr. A punched Mr. C's face more than 10 times in an open area in Seoul, causing injuries requiring two weeks of treatment.

Additionally, investigations revealed that Mr. A committed drug crimes such as methamphetamine use alongside stalking and violence. Charged with violations of the Stalking Punishment Act, Narcotics Control Act, and assault, Mr. A was sentenced in the first trial held in May to 8 months imprisonment and ordered to complete 40 hours each of drug addiction rehabilitation and stalking treatment programs.

At that time, the first trial court stated, "The crime of stalking, which continuously threatened and harassed the victim, is serious, and the assault is also of a bad nature," as the reason for the sentence. However, Mr. A appealed the verdict, claiming "the sentence is too heavy," while the prosecution also appealed, arguing "the sentence is too light."

The second trial court explained the increased sentence compared to the first trial, stating, "Considering the methods and content of each crime, the amount of narcotics handled, the frequency and duration of stalking, and the degree of injury, the crime is very serious and the culpability is heavy. There is a need for strict punishment for drug crimes, and despite the victim experiencing significant fear and anxiety and suffering mental damage from the stalking, the defendant has not been forgiven by the victim up to this appeal."