"Why Don't You Take a Photo?"... 50s Father Hits Son Who Cut Off Contact

Refusal to Take Photos Leads to Assault and Unwanted Contact
Sentenced to 1 Year 6 Months Imprisonment with 3 Years Probation

A father in his 50s who had not been in contact with his adult son and had no communication finally met his son but assaulted him because the son refused to be photographed, continued unwanted contact, and was eventually punished.

According to a report by Yonhap News on the 12th, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 3 (Presiding Judge Park Seong-min) recently sentenced Mr. A (59), who was indicted on charges of assault and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation. Mr. A was prosecuted for assaulting his son Mr. B, in his 20s, on March last year by pushing his son's head with his hand and pushing his arm because the son refused to be photographed, and punching Mr. B once each on the neck and waist.

It was reported that Mr. A and his son Mr. B had not had any significant contact or communication until then. The two barely arranged a meeting through Mr. A's attempts to contact, but due to the assault that occurred that day, Mr. B himself called 112 (emergency number) and expressed that he no longer wished to have contact with Mr. A. However, Mr. A did not accept this and the day after the assault, he sent messages demanding meetings such as meals, saying "It was just a little awkward since it was our first meeting." Afterwards, he sent more than 20 text or voice messages to Mr. B and even went to Mr. B’s house to ring the doorbell. Mr. A was also charged with violating the Stalking Punishment Act. In addition, the indictment included charges of special injury for assaulting an acquaintance with an empty soju bottle on the back of the head during a quarrel while drinking together in June last year.

The court explained the sentencing reasons, stating, "Considering the severity and high risk of the injuries inflicted by the defendant, the fact that he has a prior record of punishment for similar crimes, and that he was not forgiven by the victim of the stalking crime."