A man in his 60s who excavated his paternal uncle's grave and burned the remains using a gas sprayer has received a suspended prison sentence.

The Chuncheon District Court announced that Judge Koh Beom-jin, presiding over Criminal Single Division 2, sentenced 67-year-old A, who was indicted on charges of excavating a grave, damaging human remains, and violating the Act on Funeral Services, to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

A was put on trial for excavating his paternal uncle's grave located in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, in April of last year, taking out the remains, and burning them with an LPG gas sprayer at a location other than a certified crematorium.

In addition to his paternal uncle's grave, A also excavated another grave and burned the remains using the same method.

Judge Koh stated, "It is considered that the bereaved family members of the deceased must have suffered significant psychological pain and shock due to the defendant's crime," adding, "The sentence was determined by taking into account circumstances such as the fact that the defendant fully admitted to the crimes and has no prior criminal record for similar offenses."

(Photo: Yonhap News)