20s Spray Beer at Part-time Job Store After Stalking Following Confession Rejection

Stalking After Rejection by Female University Student Met Through SNS... 5 Million Won Fine and 1-Year Probation

A man in his 20s who stalked a female student at the same university after being rejected when he confessed his feelings was sentenced to a fine with a suspended sentence.

On the 10th, Judge Kwon Soon-nam of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 3 announced that A (21), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, was sentenced to a fine of 5 million won with a one-year suspended sentence. A was also ordered to attend 40 hours of stalking crime recidivism prevention lectures.

A was brought to trial on charges of stalking B (20, female), who was working part-time at a restaurant in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, several times between October and November last year, including trying to drag her outside the building and secretly taking photos with a mobile phone. At the time, A told B, "Why are you ignoring me? I had to drop out because of you." He also waited for B in front of the restaurant and, when B came out of the shopping mall restroom, he sprayed beer and threw a beer bottle on the floor.

A and B attend the same university but were not known to be close. A got to know B through a social networking service (SNS) messenger by chance in 2021. After confessing his feelings to B and being rejected, he committed these crimes.

Judge Kwon pointed out, "The fear and anxiety experienced by victims of stalking crimes are very severe," and added, "There is a very high possibility that it could escalate into other crimes such as assault or threats, so strict punishment is necessary." However, he explained the sentencing by saying, "The defendant paid the victim 8.5 million won, and the victim also stated that she does not want the defendant to be criminally punished," and "Considering that it does not appear that he intended to assault with the beer bottle."