"I Got Out of Prison Today"... Man in His 50s Who Assaulted 74-Year-Old Taxi Driver Sent Back to Prison

Taxi Driver Suffers Broken Nose on Day Man Is Released on Suspended Sentence; Appeals Court Upholds 1 Year and 10 Month Prison Term

A man in his 50s who was released from prison after receiving leniency from a court ended up behind bars again after assaulting a taxi driver on the day of his release.

On October 10, the Criminal Division 1 of the Jeonju Division of the Gwangju High Court, presided over by Judge Jung Moon-kyung, upheld the original sentence of one year and 10 months in prison for Defendant A, 52, who was indicted on charges including assaulting a driver in violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.

A was indicted on charges including assaulting B, a 74-year-old taxi driver, inside a taxi traveling on a road in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, at around 4:40 p.m. on March 10, 2026.

After getting into the taxi, A demanded in a commanding tone that B take him to the Seobu New Town area of Jeonju, saying, "I'm going to get something to eat, so take me to Seobu New Town." As B drove toward Seobu New Town and asked again for the exact destination, A suddenly began hurling profanities. Upset by the passenger's behavior, B said, "Don't swear at me. Tell me the exact destination." In response, A punched him. A said, "I got out of prison today," then repeatedly struck the driver's face as he drove and shook the steering wheel. B suffered serious injuries, including a broken nose.

As A had said, he had in fact been detained for committing another aggravated assault causing injury. He had just left prison after being sentenced to a suspended prison term that day.

A also stood trial on charges of threatening a woman with a weapon during an argument on December 6, 2025. The two had been in a common-law relationship. The first-instance court sentenced him to one year and six months in prison for one offense and four months for the other, for a total of one year and 10 months. A appealed on the grounds that the sentences were too harsh. The prosecution also appealed.

The appellate court stressed, "The defendant's crimes could cause traffic accidents and result in physical and property damage to an unspecified number of people, not just the driver, and therefore warrant severe punishment. Moreover, the defendant committed the crime on the day he was released from prison after receiving a suspended sentence, making his actions even more reprehensible."

The court added, "The defendant has also committed similar crimes several times, including threatening his common-law spouse with a weapon." It explained its sentencing decision, saying, "Considering, among other things, that the defendant made no effort to compensate the victim, a prison sentence is unavoidable."

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