“I Feel Dazed, as Though I’ve Been Beaten” — Victim Collapses After Judge in ‘Busan Roundhouse Kick’ Case Takes Direct Aim at Her “Media Play”

[Financial News] Controversy has erupted after the presiding judge in the appeal trial of the perpetrator in the so-called ‘Busan Roundhouse Kick Case’ remarked that the victim’s efforts to bring the case into the public spotlight involved “media play.” The victim strongly protested, saying, “I feel dazed, as though I’ve been beaten.”

The Second Criminal Division of the Busan High Court, presided over by Chief Judge Park Un-sam, held an appeal hearing on the 9th for Lee, who was indicted on charges including retaliatory threats under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The court had closed arguments in July and planned to deliver its ruling in August. However, after accepting Lee’s request, it reopened the proceedings and conducted a video examination of YouTuber A, who had been incarcerated with Lee.
The central issue at the hearing was whether Lee had foreseen that retaliatory remarks he made in the detention center would reach the victim through a third party—in other words, whether he had the intent to threaten the victim or was aware of the possibility that his remarks would do so.
A, who testified as a witness, stated, “While Lee was incarcerated, he repeatedly made retaliatory remarks such as, ‘When I get out, I’ll find the victim at her address and kill her.’” A added, “It felt as though he intended to frighten the victim so that she would be unable to give media interviews or speak publicly.” However, A drew a line at whether Lee had directly asked A to convey his intention to retaliate to the victim.
The exchange took place during the witness examination. When the presiding judge asked, in substance, “The defendant is making his own claims, but isn’t there anything in those claims that should frighten the victim?”, the victim’s attorney objected, saying, “It is inappropriate to suggest that the victim would not be hurt simply because the perpetrator is engaging in media play.”
In explaining the intent behind the remark, the presiding judge countered, “Didn’t the victim also engage in considerable media play during the trial?” When the victim’s side again protested that it was unfair to characterize the victim’s legitimate tips and appeals for help as “media play,” the judge ended the exchange, saying, “This case somehow feels as though it is becoming politicized. The court is only establishing the facts and applying the law.”

Immediately after the hearing, the victim, Kim Jin-joo (a pseudonym), expressed her devastation on social media. Kim said, “After returning from court, my head feels dazed and dizzy, as though I had been beaten,” adding, “It seems the judge thinks I would not have been afraid of the retaliatory threats.”
She continued, “Now that even the presiding judge is calling it media play, I feel as though everything was my fault,” and asked, “If this continues, who will ever come forward or report something on behalf of victims?”
Earlier this year, Lee was sentenced to one year in prison at his first trial in February for threatening the victim in retaliation. The court plans to hold one more hearing at 3 p.m. on October 7 to hear the final opinions of both sides before closing arguments.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter