40-Year-Old Sentenced to 10 Years for Kidnapping Elementary Student and Threatening Parents

Court: "The crime is serious and highly blameworthy"
Consideration given for showing remorse

A man in his 40s who kidnapped an elementary school student on the way to school and demanded 200 million won from the parents was sentenced to a heavy punishment in the first trial.

Seoul Northern District Court.

The Seoul Northern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Chief Judge Lee Dong-sik) sentenced Baek Mo (42), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (commercial kidnapping and enticement), to 10 years in prison on the morning of the 22nd.

The court explained the sentencing reason, saying, "The defendant kidnapped a minor under 13 years old on the way to school to the rooftop of an apartment and used the victim's cellphone to demand 200 million won from the victim's mother. The nature of the crime is very serious and highly condemnable. It appears that the victim continues to suffer considerable mental distress after the incident and is petitioning for severe punishment against the defendant."

However, the fact that the defendant is showing remorse and was evaluated to have a low risk of reoffending was considered as favorable circumstances.

Baek is accused of threatening an elementary school student with a weapon and kidnapping the student at around 8:40 a.m. on December 19 last year at an apartment in Dobong-gu, Seoul. Baek took the victim to the apartment rooftop, tied them up, took their cellphone, and sent a message to the parents saying, "If you do not prepare 200 million won in cash by 2 p.m., do not expect to see your daughter."

The victim managed to cut the tape and escape on their own, then requested rescue from the police, and the mother also reported to the police. The police tracked Baek’s movements through CCTV and other means and arrested him at his home.

It is known that Baek stated he committed the crime due to the pressure of about 170 million won in debt.

In the prosecution’s closing argument on the 27th of last month, they demanded a 15-year prison sentence for Baek. At that time, Baek read a handwritten letter of apology, saying, "I sincerely apologize to the victims. I committed an unforgivable act because I needed money, and I was not in my right mind due to the pressure that if I could not get the money, my family would be left homeless."