Burglar of Park Na-rae’s Home Also Gets Two-Year Prison Term on Appeal: "Reoffended While on Probation"

[Financial News] A man in his 30s who broke into the home of TV personality Park Na-rae and stole valuables worth tens of millions of won has received a prison sentence on appeal as well.
On the 5th, the Criminal Appellate Division 2-1 of the Seoul Western District Court, presided over by Judge Jeong Seong-gyun, dismissed the appeal of a 38-year-old man identified as A, who had been indicted on charges of theft, housebreaking, and nighttime residential burglary, and upheld the original sentence of two years in prison.
The appellate court stated, "There has been no change in the sentencing factors compared with the first instance, and it is difficult to find that the lower court’s sentence exceeded the reasonable bounds of its discretion," explaining its decision to reject the appeal.
A was brought to trial on charges of breaking into Park’s residence in the Yongsan District in Seoul between 4:57 a.m. and 5:10 a.m. on April 4, 2025, and stealing luxury bags, jewelry, and other items worth about 68 million won at market value.
Investigators found that A climbed over a wall to enter the home and then stole luxury bags, rings, and other items that had been kept in the dressing room. He later sold some of the stolen goods to secondhand dealers.
The investigation also revealed that in March of the same year, A had broken into another house in Yongsan District and stolen a camera, lenses, and other items worth about 11 million won.
In the first trial, the court viewed as favorable to A the fact that he reached settlements with some of the victims and that part of the stolen property was returned. However, it noted that he had previously served a prison term and received a suspended sentence for similar crimes, yet reoffended; that the stolen items were high in value; and that the victim strongly requested a severe punishment. Taking these factors into account, the court imposed an actual prison term.
Two secondhand dealers who bought the stolen camera and lenses from A were also found guilty of negligently acquiring stolen property in the course of business and were fined 2 million won and 3 million won, respectively.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter