Man in His 60s Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months for Setting Fire to Nursing Hospital Bed

Set Fires at Home and Hospital Out of Dissatisfaction with Emergency Admission

The court has sentenced a man in his 60s to prison for setting fires at both his home and a hospital out of dissatisfaction with his emergency admission.

On May 12, the 11th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Songhyun, announced that it had sentenced A (age 63), who was indicted on charges including arson of an inhabited building, to two years and six months in prison.

A is accused of setting fire to a bed mattress in the isolation ward of a nursing hospital in Geumcheon-myeon, Naju, South Jeolla Province, at around 7:35 p.m. on November 2 last year.

The crime was committed out of dissatisfaction with the emergency admission for alcohol addiction treatment. It was also revealed that, about two hours earlier on the same day, A poured gasoline and set fire to the bedroom of his home in Naju.

The court explained its sentencing by stating, "There could have been significant loss of life," and emphasized, "Given the seriousness of the crime, a severe punishment is necessary to raise awareness."