Three men in their 20s who mocked and threatened police officers at a vote-counting protest site in Jamsil Olympic Park, Seoul, last June have been sentenced to prison in the first trial.

Judge Lee Jun-gu of Criminal Division 7 at the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced the three men—surnamed Park (25), Kim (23), and Kim (24)—to six months in prison each today (the 6th).

Aside from Park, who was indicted while in detention, the other two defendants, who had been on trial without detention, were taken into custody in the courtroom following today's prison sentence.

"No one can deny that freedom of assembly and demonstration must be guaranteed to the maximum extent in a democratic society, but it must be lawful and peaceful, and sufficient consideration must be given to harmony with other legal interests," Judge Lee stated.

The judge also ruled that "obstruction of official duties is a crime that neutralizes legitimate exercise of public authority and threatens the physical safety of public officials, making strict punishment necessary."

They were charged with following a police officer around the protest site, shouting "fake police," and surrounding him along with other participants to pose threats.

Previously, at a trial held on September 1 of last month, the prosecution demanded a one-year prison sentence for them, stating that "their culpability is not light and they have not been forgiven by the victim."

While finding all the charges against the defendants guilty, Judge Lee specifically addressed the 24-year-old defendant named Kim, who had denied conspiring with the other defendants and having intent, noting, "The victimized police officer was wearing a uniform, a service hat, and a vest with a name tag, was holding a walkie-talkie, and informed the defendant of his affiliation, rank, and name." The judge added, "The defendant knew or could have sufficiently known that the victimized police officer was a police officer."

"If he genuinely suspected police impersonation, he could have checked whether he was a real police officer by calling 112, yet he took no such action at all," the judge pointed out, adding, "Despite committing this crime out of vague suspicion and guesswork, he has denied the offense and shown no attitude of remorse."

The judge explained that although they deposited 15 million won, 10 million won, and 10 million won, respectively, for the victimized police officer, the victim expressed his intention to refuse the deposits.

"The victimized police officer appears to have experienced considerable fear and psychological pressure, and still petitions for strict punishment, making punishment corresponding to his responsibility inevitable," Judge Lee said in stating the reasons for sentencing, while also considering that "Park has no criminal record of the same kind, and the Kims are first-time offenders with no record of criminal punishment."

(Photo: Yonhap News)