Husband Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Pouring Boiling Water on Thai Wife, Exceeding Prosecution's Request

A husband who poured boiling water on his sleeping Thai wife's face, causing severe burns, has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
The Uijeongbu District Court, presided over by Judge Kim Jun-young of the 12th Criminal Division, handed down the three-year-and-six-month sentence to the man in his 40s, identified as A, who was indicted on charges of special injury, today (June 16), while condemning the cruelty of the crime.
The court stated, "The defendant committed a crime so cruel that it is difficult for an ordinary person to imagine—boiling water and pouring it on the face of a sleeping spouse," adding, "The victim suffered injuries to her face, the most important part of one's body in social life, while she was in a defenseless state."
The court further noted, "It appears the crime was committed to prevent her from meeting other men, suggesting a very high possibility of recidivism. While the defendant claims he committed the act after discovering his wife's infidelity, such a cruel crime cannot be justified regardless of the truth of those allegations."
The court also pointed out, "The victim met the defendant in 2021 and registered their marriage in 2024, but she was staying in Korea temporarily without a marriage visa due to the defendant's failure to meet the requirements. She was in a vulnerable position, isolated socially and culturally in Korea with limited proficiency in the Korean language, when she was victimized."
Previously, the prosecution had requested a three-year prison sentence for A, but the court explained, "We have decided to impose a sentence higher than the prosecution's request, as we have determined there are factors that warrant an aggravated sentence."
A was indicted while under arrest for pouring water boiled in an electric kettle onto the face and neck of his 30-year-old Thai wife, B, while she was sleeping at an apartment in Uijeongbu on December 3 of last year.
During the initial investigation, A denied the charges, claiming, "I tripped and accidentally spilled the boiling water." However, during the trial, he admitted to all charges, bowed his head, and tearfully pleaded for leniency.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.