'Convenience Store Shortcut Assault' Victim Suffers Hearing Loss... "Wearing Hearing Aid"

Victim Posts "I Will Stay Strong Until the End"

A woman in her 20s, who was indiscriminately assaulted by a man she had never met during her part-time job at a convenience store simply because her hair was short, revealed that she has suffered hearing loss as a aftereffect of the incident and now has to wear a hearing aid.

Post by the victim of the Jinju convenience store assault on X [Photo source: Screenshot of 'Jinju convenience store assault victim X account']

The victim, Ms. A, shared an update on her X (formerly Twitter) account on the 29th, stating, "I am the part-time worker victim of the Jinju convenience store assault case."

She said, "I am going to the otolaryngology clinic today to get a hearing aid made," and added, "Due to the perpetrator's assault, I was diagnosed with damage to the auditory nerve and sensorineural hearing loss in my left ear." She explained, "There is no treatment for the hearing loss that has already occurred, so it remains permanent damage, and wearing a hearing aid is the only option."

She continued, "At the last trial, the prosecution demanded a five-year prison sentence. The next trial is scheduled for April 9, when the verdict will be delivered," and appealed, "I humbly ask you to continue watching over this case until the end and to stand with me."

Ms. A expressed, "I feel unsettled ahead of the sentencing trial," adding, "I feel angry and sometimes want to give up, but thanks to the solidarity shown today as well, I will try to gather strength again until the end."

On the night of November 4 last year, while working part-time at a convenience store in Hadae-dong, Jinju, Ms. A was assaulted with fists and kicks by a man in his 20s simply because her hair was short. The perpetrator, Mr. B, also in his 20s, was investigated to have made remarks such as "Seeing a woman with short hair, she must be a feminist" and "Feminists need to be beaten a bit." When Ms. A tried to report to the police, Mr. B took her phone and destroyed it. When a customer in his 50s tried to stop the assault, Mr. B violently attacked him as well, saying, "Why are you taking the man's side?" and even struck with a chair inside the store.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 5th, the prosecution stated, "Although the perpetrator is a first-time offender, he committed an abnormal crime, and the victim's suffering continues," and demanded a five-year prison sentence. In his final statement, Mr. B said, "I committed the crime in a state of diminished mental capacity," and appealed for leniency, saying, "I am suffering in prison with resentment, regret, and guilt. I will do my best to make amends and live the rest of my life in reflection."

The first trial verdict for the case will be held on the 9th of next month at the Jinju branch of the Changwon District Court.