Man in His 30s Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Courthouse Break-In During 'Seobu District Court Riot'

A man in his 30s who broke into a courthouse during the Seobu District Court riot has been sentenced to prison in the first trial.

On the afternoon of July 17, Kim Hyungseok, the presiding judge of the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Western District Court, held a sentencing hearing for Mr. Kim (37), who was charged with special trespassing of a public building and special damage to public property, and sentenced him to one year in prison.

Mr. Kim was accused of joining with multiple people to break into the courthouse during the Seobu District Court riot in January, and of attempting but failing to forcibly open the automatic glass doors at the court entrance during the incident.

The court stated, "Physically attacking the court by illegal and violent means simply because the court's proceedings or outcomes differ from one's own views shakes the very foundation of democracy and the rule of law, and can never be tolerated under any circumstances."