Teens Assaulting Security Guard in Their 60s and Distributing Video... Prosecutors Say "Requesting Leniency Due to Age"

Prosecution Requests "1 Year Short-Term Imprisonment, 2 Years Long-Term" Sentence

Two teenagers who assaulted a security guard in his 60s, knocking him unconscious, and filmed the incident to distribute it on social networking services (SNS) were sentenced to prison by the prosecution.

According to Yonhap News Agency, "On the 30th, the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office Namyangju Branch requested the court to sentence defendant A (15), charged with assault, to a short-term imprisonment of 1 year, and defendant B (15), charged with defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, to a long-term imprisonment of 2 years during the sentencing hearing." The prosecution stated, "The defendants repeatedly committed juvenile crimes and showed no sense of law-abiding by asking for leniency in court due to their young age, and the victim wishes for punishment." In juvenile cases, sentences are divided into short-term and long-term imprisonment, with adjustments made based on the degree of rehabilitation during incarceration.

Defendant A is accused of knocking down security guard C, in his 60s, and kicking his face and other areas at a commercial building in Dasan-dong, Namyangju City, around midnight on January 12, causing injuries requiring three weeks of medical treatment. Defendant B, a friend of A, is accused of filming the assault and uploading it to SNS. The two began the assault after C scolded them for causing a disturbance inside the building. The video uploaded by B showed A’s indiscriminate violence, sparking nationwide outrage. The footage included C being kicked and collapsing to the floor, unconscious for about three seconds. Initially, C expressed that he did not want A to be punished, but after the video spread widely, he changed his stance and requested punishment for both.

A and B admitted to most of the charges.

However, the defense attorney argued, "A admits to the assault and is deeply remorseful," but requested, "Please consider the circumstances and motives, as the victim first provoked the fight and threw the first punch." Regarding B, the attorney emphasized, "The video was automatically uploaded to SNS, and there was no intent to defame the victim; rather, most comments criticized A."

The first trial sentencing for the defendants will be held on October 16.