"Father in His 50s Given Suspended Sentence for Assaulting 14-Year-Olds He Believed Bullied Disabled Son"

Believing His Son Was Being Bullied Over Shoes and Clothes, He Held a Grudge...
One Victim Required Two Weeks of Medical Treatment
Court: “Particularly Mitigating Circumstances and Sincere Remorse Considered”

A man in his 50s has been handed a suspended sentence after being convicted of assaulting several teenagers whom he believed were bullying his teenage son with severe intellectual disabilities.

Cheongju District Court. Yonhap News

On September 6, according to the legal community, Chief Judge Park Kwangmin of the Cheongju District Court’s Criminal Division 1 sentenced Mr. A (age 57), who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abuse), to a fine of 3 million won, suspended for one year.

Mr. A was tried on charges of repeatedly punching his son’s friend, referred to as "B" (age 14), in the face, head, and side at his home in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on February 18 last year. B sustained injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment due to the assault.

At the time, Mr. A was found to have assaulted B because B entered the bathroom wearing shoes.

Mr. A also told other 14-year-old friends not to visit his house, but when they returned, he slapped them and assaulted them. He is also accused of repeatedly hitting the back of the head of another friend who had been arguing with his son.

Mr. A’s son also had severe intellectual disabilities at that time, at the age of 14. Mr. A harbored resentment toward B and others, believing that they bullied his son by taking away items such as his shoes and clothes.

The court found Mr. A guilty but suspended the execution of the fine, taking into consideration the motive behind the offense and his remorse.

Chief Judge Park stated, "A suspended sentence is being imposed in consideration of the particularly mitigating circumstances behind the motive and Mr. A’s sincere remorse."

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