[Law Firm Now] Law Firm Daeryun Takes on Case of Middle School Girl Sent to Prosecution for Damage Charges Over Removing Flyers

Public Criticism After Yongin Dongbu Police Station Sends Case to Prosecution
Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency Decides on Supplementary Investigation
Lawyer Kim Da-eun: "A Case Revealing the Police's Mechanical Case Handling"

Law firm Dae-ryun (Limited) has decided to take on the case of a middle school girl who was sent to the prosecution for removing an unauthorized flyer posted in her apartment elevator, amid a flood of public protests after citizens learned of her story.

Dae-ryun reportedly reached out to offer legal assistance after learning about the case through the media.

According to the legal community on the 19th, Dae-ryun recently submitted a power of attorney to the Yongin Eastern Police Station in Gyeonggi Province on behalf of the middle school girl, Ms. A.

Ms. A is under investigation for allegedly removing a flyer that was attached to the mirror inside the elevator of her apartment building in May.

The flyer was created by the apartment’s resident self-governing organization but was an unauthorized posting without the management office’s official seal. It was found that Ms. A removed the flyer without any particular intent after it obstructed her view while she was looking into the mirror.

However, the police applied charges of property damage against Ms. A and forwarded the case to the prosecution. The police based their decision on a 2022 Pyeongtaek District Court precedent, which states that to lawfully remove a posting without the consent of the managing entity, one must either request voluntary removal from the person who posted it or file a civil lawsuit to enforce removal.

Ms. A’s parents raised objections through the National Petition System and the media, and after the case became public, the police station’s website was flooded with complaints criticizing the excessive investigation. Although the police chief responded with an apology, the critical public sentiment did not subside.

As the controversy continued, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, the superior authority of the Yongin Eastern Police Station, decided to conduct a supplementary investigation and took the case back from the prosecution.

Attorney Kim Da-eun of Dae-ryun, who took on Ms. A’s case, said, “I could not help but feel anger after learning about Ms. A’s case through the media,” and added, “After some inquiries, I was able to contact Ms. A and reached out to offer help first.”

She further stated, “This case reveals the harsh reality of police investigations that mechanically handle cases without concrete justification,” and criticized, “Even if the police decide not to prosecute after reinvestigation, it would only be a temporary measure to smooth over the situation.”

She added, “Currently, Ms. A is still exposed to danger, receiving all kinds of slander and threatening messages from the group that posted the flyers,” and emphasized, “Continuous social attention and sincere reflection from the agencies handling the case are necessary.”