Man in 30s Assaults Girlfriend Causing Eardrum Damage... Suspended Sentence in Appeal Trial

Repeatedly Slapped the Victim's Cheek

A man in his 30s who repeatedly slapped his girlfriend's cheek hard enough to tear her eardrum was sentenced to probation in an appellate court.

[Photo by Getty Images Bank]

According to the legal community on the 6th, the Criminal Division 1-1 of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Chief Judge Jang Chan) sentenced A (31), who was indicted on charges of injury, to 10 months in prison with a 3-year probation, and ordered probation supervision and attendance of 40 hours of violence treatment lectures on the 27th of last month.

A is accused of repeatedly slapping the victim's cheek after getting angry when his girlfriend lightly hit his face last August to snap him out of it. As a result, the victim suffered damage to the left eardrum and received treatment for about 21 days.

A was sentenced to 10 months in prison in the first trial in March but appealed, claiming "the sentence is too heavy and unfair." The court explained the sentencing reason, stating, "He admitted the crime voluntarily, is reflecting on his wrongdoing, and a smooth settlement with the victim has been reached."

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that A had previously been criminally punished for assaulting his girlfriend. In 2017, he hit B dozens of times on the face because B requested a breakup, and the victim received treatment at a hospital for about six weeks. For that case, A was sentenced to 1 year in prison with a 2-year probation.