'Attempted Kidnapping of Female Instructor' 40s Man Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months in Second Trial

A man in his 40s, who was charged with kidnapping a female academy instructor known as a ‘top lecturer’ and attempting to extort money, was sentenced to prison again in the second trial.

Seoul Central District Court, Seocho-dong, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

On the 25th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 12-1 (Presiding Judges Hong Ji-young, Bang Woong-hwan, Kim Hyung-bae) held the appellate trial for Park (41), who was detained and indicted on charges including attempted special robbery and preparation for robbery, and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, the same as the first trial. The accomplice Kim, who committed the crime together, died by suicide after the failed crime, and the case was closed without prosecution.

The court stated, “The circumstances and nature of the crime are very serious,” and “Even though the defendant did not directly carry out the act, the crime cannot be considered light because he concretely planned the crime while collecting victim information with the accomplice over a long period.”

Regarding Park’s claim that he only aided without conspiring in the crime, the court said, “He gathered information such as tracking the victim’s movements with the accomplice, identifying the vehicle number, and whether they were accompanied, and also provided the accomplice with a bank account to receive future profit shares,” adding, “It is recognized that there was a joint intent, not mere assistance.”

Park was prosecuted on charges of planning and attempting to kidnap a female academy instructor with accomplice Kim to extort money, but the attempt failed as they were stopped by the instructor’s husband.

Park targeted female famous academy instructors whose lecture schedules and residences were publicly known to plan the crime. It was confirmed that he meticulously prepared by scouting the crime scenes more than seven times over about a month.