Two Sentenced to Prison in First Trial for Breaking Into Court During Western District Court Riot

Two individuals who participated in the Western District Court riot and broke into the court have been sentenced to prison in the first trial.

Employees of the Seoul Western District Court are organizing facilities damaged during the Western District Court riot. Photo by Yonhap News

On July 16, Park Jiweon, the presiding judge of the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Court, sentenced Nam (36) to two years and six months in prison, and Lee (63) to one year and four months in prison, on charges including special intrusion into a building.

Judge Park stated, "They contributed to instilling fear among court employees and inflicted significant damage to the authority of the court. If the authority of the court is undermined, dissatisfaction with court decisions will become rampant, and to prevent resulting social conflict, it is necessary to impose severe punishment so that crimes infringing upon the authority of the court do not occur."

Nam was indicted for breaking into the court premises during the Western District Court riot on January 19, breaking exterior wall tiles with a police shield, and damaging first-floor windows, entrance glass doors, and artworks inside the court using a fire extinguisher and an iron rod.

Lee was brought to trial for entering up to the second floor of the court during the riot and physically pushing and assaulting police officers. However, he was acquitted of the charge of assaulting a police officer (obstruction of special official duties) due to insufficient evidence, such as the inability to identify the victim.