"Pushed Police with Barricade" Involvement in Western District Court Riot by a Man in His 20s... Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison

[Financial News] A man in his 20s involved in the Western District Court riot has been sentenced to imprisonment. The court recognized both the intrusion into the court premises and the exertion of force against the police, stating "the responsibility is heavy."
Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Heo Jun-seo) sentenced Mr. Kim (24), who was indicted on charges of special building intrusion and special obstruction of official duties, to 2 years in prison on the 22nd.
Mr. Kim was brought to trial for entering the premises of the Western District Court with many protest participants to protest the warrant review held after the arrest of former President Yoon Seok-yeol last January, and for attempting to separate the police and protesters by grabbing a barricade.
Mr. Kim claimed, "I did not intrude inside," and "I only pulled the barricade to separate the police," but the court did not accept this.
The court stated, "Considering the circumstances and evidence when the defendant entered the court, it seems that the act was done with other protest forces, and it is recognized as a court intrusion."
Regarding the grabbing of the barricade, "The defendant's actions, which appeared several times in the video, are not seen as an attempt to separate the police," and "It seems that the defendant was also involved in the process of pushing the police with the protesters," the court pointed out.
The court emphasized, "The responsibility is heavy as the defendant exerted collective force against the police who controlled access to the court ahead of the warrant review," and "There is a need for severe punishment." However, "consideration was given to the fact that it is a first offense and the defendant has shown a reflective attitude belatedly," the court explained as the reason for sentencing.


425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter