20s Man Stalked Teenage Girlfriend Despite Receiving 1.2 Million Won Under 'Complete Breakup' Condition

Dating Violence Followed by Family Insults After Breakup
Chuncheon District Court Sentences 6 Months Imprisonment, 2 Years Probation

A man in his 20s who stalked his teenage girlfriend by visiting her workplace and calling her even after receiving 1.2 million won on the condition of a complete breakup was sentenced to prison.

On the 18th, the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Kim Dohyung) announced that A (24), who was indicted without detention for violating the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes and assault charges, was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation. The court also ordered A to undergo probation and attend 40 hours of stalking crime recidivism prevention lectures.

Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch Photo by Yonhap News

A was brought to trial on charges of stalking by approaching his ex-girlfriend B (19) at her workplace around 8:30 p.m. on October 14 and again three days later on October 17 last year, and calling her six times. Additionally, the indictment included charges that on September 30, 2020, at around 9:42 p.m. in a PC bang in Wonju, Gangwon Province, A became angry because a man called B, took B’s phone, and assaulted her by pushing her head and shaking her hair when she tried to stop him.

A had been dating B since she was a middle school student in 2019 and broke up in March last year. Even after the breakup, A insulted B’s family environment and relatives, and despite receiving 1.2 million won from B on the condition of a complete breakup, he committed these crimes.

Chief Judge Kim pointed out, "Although A is a first-time offender and has deposited 3 million won in criminal bail for the victim, and is currently enrolled in a hospital-related department which could be a disqualification for obtaining a license, the mental suffering the victim endured due to the acts described in the indictment is very severe." He further explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "The sentence was determined considering that the victim petitioned for a severe punishment of the defendant." Since the Stalking Punishment Act is not a crime subject to victim’s withdrawal of complaint, the perpetrator can be punished even if the victim does not wish for punishment.