"Refusing to Pay 100 Million Won in Damages"... Busan 'Spinning Kick' Perpetrator Allowed to Use 100,000 Won per Month from Prison Deposit

Court Approves Change in Scope of Seizure-Exempt Claim

Victim Criticizes Decision: "Court Only Considered Perpetrator's Circumstances... Will Appeal Immediately"

The perpetrator of the Busan spinning kick case will now be allowed to use a certain amount of his deposit money each month while in the correctional facility. This decision comes as the victim is in the process of seizing the perpetrator's deposit money to collect damages.

Imo, the perpetrator of the spinning kick incident in Busan, attacking the victim Kimmo. Yonhap News Agency

According to Yonhap News on June 15, the Western Branch of the Busan District Court approved the application by Im, the perpetrator in the spinning kick case, to change the scope of the seizure-exempt claim. As a result, Im will be allowed to use up to 100,000 won per month from his deposit money.

Deposit money refers to funds that an inmate or their family deposits for use within the correctional facility, such as purchasing items from the commissary. It is also known as custody money.

Previously, the victim, Kim, won a damages lawsuit against Im for approximately 100 million won. Following the ruling, Kim attempted to recover the compensation by seizing Im's deposit money while he was incarcerated.

Since inmates' basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter are provided by the state, deposit money beyond a certain exempted amount can be subject to compulsory execution, unlike the standard minimum cost of living.

It has been reported that Kim has repeatedly contacted the correctional facility to check Im's deposit balance in order to collect the damages. However, Im's deposit balance recently dropped to less than 1,000 won, making seizure virtually impossible.

Amid this situation, Im petitioned the court to allow him to use a portion of the deposit money each month for hospital bills and commissary purchases, and the court accepted his request.

Kim immediately expressed her intention to appeal the decision. She stated, "Considering the remaining prison term, the amount the perpetrator can use is about 20 million won," and added, "The perpetrator has never voluntarily paid compensation even once."

Kim further criticized, "The amount I have been able to recover is just about 463,000 won out of 100 million won, which is not even 1%. The court's decision only considered the perpetrator's circumstances." She also voiced concerns that other offenders required to pay compensation to victims might exploit this ruling for their own benefit.

Im was indicted in May 2022 for following a woman returning home into the lobby of an officetel building in Busanjin-gu, Busan, and brutally assaulting her. During the investigation and trial, charges including attempted rape and murder were upheld, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which he is now serving.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.