Suspended Sentence for Culprit Behind Gyeongbuk Wildfires That Killed 27 Criticized as Light Punishment

The orchard tenant charged with causing the worst wildfire in history in Gyeongbuk Province in March of last year has received a suspended prison sentence in the appellate court as well.

Presiding Judge Kim Jeong-do of Criminal Division 2-1 at the Daegu High Court dismissed the prosecution's appeal in the second trial of a man in his 60s, surnamed Jung, who was indicted for violating the Forest Protection Act.

The lower court sentenced Jung to two years and six months in prison, suspended for three years, along with an order for probation and 120 hours of community service.

The court stated, "We thought long and hard about whether it would be appropriate to sentence the defendant to prison and take him into custody given the immense damage and heavy consequences caused by his wrongdoing," adding, "Ultimately, we have decided to maintain the sentence from the first trial."

The court also pointed out, "Moving forward, the defendant must live with a high degree of caution and vigilance regarding the act of burning trash when winds are strong."

Previously, the prosecution had appealed on the grounds of unfair sentencing, arguing that the penalty from the first trial was too lenient.

During the final sentencing hearing, the prosecution had demanded a three-year prison term for Jung.

Jung was brought to trial for burning agricultural byproduct residues at an orchard in Angye-myeon, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, in March of last year, and leaving the scene without making sure the embers were completely extinguished, causing the fire to spread to surrounding areas.

At the time, wildfires broke out in two locations in Uiseong-gun—Angye-myeon and Anpyeong-myeon—and spread to Andong, Yeongdeok, and other areas fueled by strong winds, resulting in 27 deaths and 40 injuries.

The damage area was recorded at 99,289 hectares, the largest in history, displacing approximately 3,500 residents.

Meanwhile, another individual in his 50s, surnamed Shin, who was indicted for starting a wildfire while burning young trees around his grandparents' grave at another ignition point in Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years, with 120 hours of community service in the first trial.

Reported by Park Se-won | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.