Court Grants Suspended Sentence to Man Who Assaulted Former School Bully

A court has handed down a suspended prison sentence to a man who was put on trial for assaulting a person who had bullied him during their elementary school years.

In June 2024, the defendant, identified as A, encountered B, his former school bully, while B was smoking on a street in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Overwhelmed by trauma, A assaulted B, leaving B with injuries including a concussion and a fracture around the eye.

A was indicted on charges of assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced to six months in prison in October 2024.

It was reported that following the incident, A suffered from guilt and symptoms of bipolar disorder, leading him to attempt suicide.

A is currently receiving psychiatric treatment and working as a cleaning staff member at a lodging facility.

Both A and the prosecution appealed the first-instance ruling, and the appellate court opted for leniency.

On May 21, 2026, the 1-3 Criminal Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced A to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

The appellate court stated the reason for the sentencing, saying, "A encountered B by chance and, overwhelmed by painful memories of being bullied in elementary school, lost control of his emotions and committed the assault," adding, "He is deeply reflecting on his wrongdoing and showing remorse."

The court further explained that A had deposited 4 million won during the first trial and an additional 4 million won during the second trial as compensation for B.

Although B petitioned for a harsh punishment during the appellate process, arguing that the total deposit did not cover the medical expenses, the appellate court stated, "We must consider that A is a child of a single-parent household and his mother is a recipient of basic livelihood security benefits."

The court further explained the reason for the reduced sentence, noting that A "is currently receiving psychiatric treatment and is committed to making efforts to compensate B for the damages while working as a cleaning staff member."

Neither A nor the prosecution appealed the appellate court's ruling, and the sentence has been finalized.

Reported by Lee Ho-geon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.