Court Grants Suspended Sentence to Man Who Assaulted Former School Bully

A court has handed down a suspended prison sentence to a man who was put on trial for assaulting a person who had bullied him during their elementary school years.

In June 2024, a man identified as A encountered B, his former school bully, who was smoking on a street in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Overcome by trauma, A assaulted B, leaving B with injuries including a concussion and a fracture around the eye.

A was indicted on charges of injury and received a six-month prison sentence in October 2024.

It was reported that after the incident, A suffered from guilt and symptoms of bipolar disorder, leading him to attempt to take his own life.

A is currently receiving psychiatric treatment and working as a cleaning service worker at a lodging facility.

Both A and the prosecution appealed the first-instance ruling, and the appellate court opted for leniency.

On May 21, the Seoul Eastern District Court's Criminal Division 1-3 sentenced A to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

The appellate court explained the sentencing, stating, "A encountered B by chance and, overwhelmed by painful memories of being bullied in elementary school, lost control of his emotions and committed the assault," adding that "he is deeply reflecting on and repenting for his wrongdoing."

The court further noted that A had "deposited 4 million won during the first trial and an additional 4 million won during the second trial" as compensation for B.

Although B petitioned for a harsh punishment during the appellate process, arguing that "the total amount of the deposits does not cover the medical expenses," the appellate court stated, "We must consider that A is a child of a single-parent household and his mother is a basic livelihood security recipient."

The court added that A "is currently receiving psychiatric treatment and is committed to making efforts to compensate B for the damages while working as a cleaning service worker," explaining the reason for the reduced sentence.

As neither A nor the prosecution appealed the appellate court's decision, the ruling has been finalized.

Reported by Lee Ho-geon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.