"Can't Even Hit You... Just Wait Until I'm Discharged" Soldier Threatens Superior, Receives Suspended Sentence

Court: "Taking Prior Juvenile Protection Measures into Account"

Military bullying illustration (photo to aid article understanding, not directly related). Photo by Asia Economy DB

A soldier who became angry after being reprimanded by a superior and made threatening gestures accompanied by profanity was punished after being discharged from the military.

On July 4, Judge Park Dongwook of the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 3 announced that he had sentenced Mr. A (23), who was indicted on charges of threatening a superior, to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

In March of last year, at a military mess hall in a unit in the Chuncheon area, Mr. A became angry after being reprimanded by Sergeant B for skipping meals and forging signatures. He responded by swearing, clenching his fist and shaking his arm up and down as if to strike, and said, "I can't even hit you, should I just kill you?"

Shortly afterward, while being escorted to the administrative office on the orders of Senior Officer C, who had heard about the incident from Sergeant B, Mr. A attempted to silence Sergeant B. When Sergeant B refused, Mr. A threatened, "Just wait until I'm discharged." Even after arriving at the administrative office, Mr. A continued to threaten Sergeant B, who was reporting his abusive and threatening behavior to Senior Officer C, saying, "Seriously, just wait until I'm discharged."

The court stated, "Given the circumstances and content of the threats, the nature of the crime is severe," and added, "The decision also took into account Mr. A's history of multiple juvenile protection measures and punishments for other crimes."