Middle School Students Who Roundhouse Kicked and Retaliated with Assault Against Women Old Enough to Be Their Mothers... Suspended Sentence

Filming Assault Scene and Sharing with Acquaintances
8 Months to 1 Year 6 Months Prison Sentence with Probation

Middle school students who not only indiscriminately assaulted a passerby but also filmed the incident were sentenced to prison with suspended sentences.

A middle school student performing a flying kick on a woman in her 40s.
[Photo by MBN]

According to a report by Yonhap News on the 8th, the Criminal Division 1 of Daegu District Court Seobu Branch (Chief Judge Im Dong-han) announced that middle school student A (16), who was indicted on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspended sentence, and B (15) was sentenced to 1 year in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence.

Additionally, C (15), who filmed the assault and uploaded the video to social networking services (SNS) to share with acquaintances, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence. The court also ordered probation for all three individuals.

Daegu District Court Seobu Branch
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A and B confronted a woman in her 40s, Ms. D, on a street in Naedang-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu, around 4:30 a.m. on December 18 last year, and assaulted her after provoking a dispute. When Ms. D reported the incident to the police, they left the scene but soon returned to find and retaliate against her. During this process, C encouraged A and B to assault Ms. D, saying she would film the assault.

Upon finding Ms. D, A and B carried out indiscriminate assaults, including a so-called "flying kick," where they lifted their bodies and kicked her. C filmed the assault on her mobile phone and shared the footage with her acquaintances. They were also charged with stealing snacks and other items from an unmanned store on the same day.

The court pointed out, "The defendants' criminal nature is very poor and has caused great public outrage. They brutally assaulted the victim multiple times, and the injuries are not minor." Regarding the sentencing, the court explained, "Considering that the defendants were only 14 to 15 years old at the time of the crime and committed the acts due to immature impulses and temperament, that they reached a settlement with the victim, and that their parents have pledged thorough guidance, the sentence was determined."