'Shortcut Alba Worker' Injured While Preventing Assault... Government Designates 50s Male as Injury Victim

Convenience Store Part-Timer Assaulted Over a 'Shortcut'

A man in his 50s who was injured while trying to stop the assault of a female convenience store part-timer in Jinju, Gyeongnam, has been designated as a meritorious person.

According to Yonhap News on the 12th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare recently finalized the designation of Mr. A, in his 50s, as a meritorious person following an ex officio review.

Last November, Mr. A was injured in his shoulder and back while restraining a man in his 20s who was violently hitting female part-timer Ms. B at a convenience store in Jinju because she had short hair. The man repeatedly assaulted Ms. B while saying, "You deserve to be hit because you are a feminist."

Ms. B reportedly suffered hearing loss from the incident and now needs to use a hearing aid. Mr. A also resigned from his job after the incident due to hospital treatment and cooperating with the investigation, and has been struggling financially while working temporary jobs.

CCTV footage inside the convenience store at the time of the crime. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In April, Jinju City presented Mr. A with a plaque of appreciation and supported him with 4.8 million won for medical and living expenses while promoting his designation as a meritorious person. A meritorious person is recognized when injured or killed while performing rescue acts outside of their official duties. Those designated as meritorious persons are eligible for compensation payments and medical benefits.

Meanwhile, the prosecution has requested a five-year prison sentence for the man in both the first trial and the appeal. On the 27th of last month, during the appeal sentencing hearing at Changwon District Court’s 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Lee Ju-yeon), the prosecution stated, "This case is a type of hate crime. The man testified that he committed the crime because he believed feminists or female supremacists should receive mental education." They emphasized, "This can cause social fear and anxiety as well as social fractures such as gender conflict, so strict measures are necessary."

They added, "The victim, Ms. B in her 20s, suffers from severe psychological shock, unemployment, severed human relationships, and hearing nerve damage that interferes with daily life," and explained, "These factors must be taken into consideration." The appeal sentencing for this case is scheduled for October 15 at 2 p.m.