A Drunk 60-Year-Old Assaulted Police After Putting a Gas Cylinder in the Fire

Even the Police Officer Trying to Intervene Was Assaulted
Sought Leniency but 'Dismissed'

Mr. A was prosecuted for lighting a fire in the yard while intoxicated, setting fire to cardboard boxes, and attempting to cause an explosion by placing two LP gas cylinders into the flames. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] A man in his 60s who, while intoxicated, threw liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders into a fire was sentenced to prison.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon Branch of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Hwang Seung-tae) announced on the 3rd that it dismissed the appeal filed by Mr. A (60), who was charged with attempted explosion of an explosive device, and sentenced him to one year in prison, the same as the original sentence.

Mr. A was prosecuted for allegedly setting fire to a paper box and other items in the yard of his house in Yeongwol-gun around midnight on February 21 and throwing two LPG cylinders into the fire to cause an explosion.

Police officers who responded to a report of "setting fire and causing a disturbance" asked Mr. A to extinguish the fire, fearing that the flames might spread to nearby houses, but he said, "What does it matter if I light a fire in my front yard?" and put the gas cylinders into the fire.

He even threw punches at the police officers who tried to remove the LPG cylinders from the fire, resulting in additional charges of obstruction of official duties and injury, along with attempted explosion of an explosive device.

The Yeongwol Branch of the Chuncheon District Court, which handled the first trial, sentenced him to prison considering the significant risk that would have occurred if the gas cylinders had exploded and the fact that he assaulted and injured police officers.

In the appeal trial, Mr. A pleaded for leniency, saying, "I will never commit a crime again and will live sincerely," but the appellate court dismissed the appeal, stating, "There are no significant changes in circumstances to alter the original judgment and sentencing."