"I touched my smartphone a few times in the theater... Someone threw popcorn at me"

Netizens Criticize Story Titled 'I Was Annoyed but Endured It'
"Both Are Wrong" Netizens Show Diverse Reactions

Netizens showed various reactions after hearing a story about someone being hit with popcorn by a viewer sitting behind them while looking at their phone in a movie theater. On the 14th, a post titled "Someone threw popcorn at me in the movie theater" was uploaded on the office worker community 'Blind.' The author, Mr. A, said he checked his phone a few times for personal reasons while watching a movie in the theater. He explained, "Of course, I didn’t look at it when it was dark around me, only briefly turned it on during bright scenes. I also set the screen brightness to the lowest."

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Then, he was hit with popcorn by another viewer sitting behind him. After enduring it several times, Mr. A turned around and said the other viewer threw popcorn to tell him to turn off his phone. Mr. A claimed, "I admit it was my fault, but is it right to throw popcorn at someone? Since it flew toward me, the people sitting next to me were also affected." He added, "Is it right to throw popcorn at the back of someone's head until I turn around? After coming home and thinking about it, I’m very angry and annoyed. I should have said something right then and there."

Netizens commented, "He deserved it," "Even if the phone is dimmed, people behind can still see it," "It’s impressive they didn’t throw drinks," "He should have gone outside to use his phone in the first place," and "If you want to look at your phone, watch movies at home." On the other hand, some comments said, "Throwing popcorn is also rude," and "Both are at fault."

Previously, a man in his 40s who assaulted another person during a dispute over phone use in a movie theater was sentenced to prison with a suspended sentence. Around May last year, Mr. A tapped the shoulder of victim Mr. B, who was sitting in the same row at a movie theater in Dong-gu, Daejeon, asking him to refrain from using his phone.

Mr. B responded with profanity, and an argument ensued. The two even fought in the hallway. During this, Mr. A assaulted Mr. B with a nearby chair, causing injuries that required four weeks of treatment.

Judge Jang Min-ju of the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 11 sentenced Mr. A, who was charged with special injury, to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence. Regarding the assault charge, Judge Jang stated, "He lost control of his anger momentarily and used a chair to commit violence, causing significant injury," and "considered the victim’s strong plea for strict punishment against the defendant" as reasons for the sentencing.