Group Behind 'Retaliatory Vandalism' Service Admits Most Charges in First Trial

A group indicted for carrying out "retaliatory terror" acts, such as spraying excrement and graffiti on others' homes in exchange for money, has admitted to most of the charges during their first trial.

The Seoul Southern District Court held the first trial today (June 17) for three individuals arrested and indicted on charges including violations of the Information and Communications Network Act and the Personal Information Protection Act. The defendants include the ringleader, identified by his surname Jung (34), a counselor who allegedly obtained employment under false pretenses, identified by her surname Yeo (44), and an individual identified by his surname Lee (36), who allegedly directed the crimes via Telegram.

They are accused of committing malicious acts of terror in various locations on multiple occasions, including spraying human excrement and painting abusive graffiti on the front door of an apartment in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, this past January.

During the hearing, legal representatives for Jung and Yeo admitted to all the charges brought by the prosecution.

However, Lee’s side partially denied the charges, stating, "Regarding the charges of property damage and trespassing, he acted as an aider and abettor rather than a co-principal offender."

The defendants expressed their intention to reach settlements with the victims to the court.

The next trial is scheduled for August 12 at 10:40 a.m.

According to the prosecution, Jung allegedly received requests from various individuals via Telegram, promising to carry out "retaliatory terror" on their behalf.

It was found that he instructed Yeo to infiltrate an outsourced service provider for Baedal Minjok (a food delivery platform) as a counselor, where she allegedly accessed personal information without authorization to obtain the addresses needed for the crimes.

Police expanded their investigation while looking into a man in his 30s, identified as A, who acted as an operative for the organization, leading to the additional arrests of Jung, Yeo, and others.

The operative, A, was sentenced to six months in prison in the first trial this past April on charges of trespassing and property damage.

Investigations revealed that A had been offered 500,000 won per job by an individual known as "Team Leader Min" to enter victims' homes, smear them with excrement, spray abusive graffiti, and distribute flyers containing the victims' personal information. A committed these acts three times.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.