“Why are you ignoring me?” Man in his 60s breaks into acquaintance’s home and threatens them with a weapon two months after release [True Crime Story]

[Financial News] A man in his 60s who broke into an acquaintance’s home, assaulted them and threatened them with a weapon less than two months after his release from prison was sentenced to prison. The man had previously been sentenced to prison for crimes including breaking into someone else’s home, assaulting a resident who was asleep and threatening them with a dangerous object.
According to legal sources on the 23rd, the Seoul Northern District Court’s Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Jeong Deok-su) sentenced A (66), who was indicted on charges of trespassing and aggravated threats, to one year and two months in prison on the 6th.
A was sent to trial on suspicion of breaking into the home of B (69), a man living in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, at around 9:40 p.m. on May 20. He was also accused of damaging the door by repeatedly kicking the area around the doorknob, angered because B did not answer his calls and was ignoring him. Investigators said A then entered the home through the gap in the damaged door and approached the bed where B was sleeping.
According to the prosecution, A swore at B and punched him once in the abdomen, then struck him once each on the head and face as B woke in alarm. A also grabbed B by the shoulders with both hands and shook him. When B tried to flee to the bathroom, A picked up a weapon from the kitchen, chased after him and threatened him, saying, “Why are you ignoring me like this?”
It was determined that A broke down the entrance door and entered the home while B was asleep. B had once given A the door code to his home, but changed it after their relationship deteriorated. At the time of the crime, B had locked the door and was asleep.
The court found the trespassing and aggravated-threats charges proven, saying B’s statements to investigators and in court were detailed and consistent, and were corroborated by the contents of his 112 emergency call at the time. The court also cited the fact that A had been drunk and caused a disturbance after breaking into B’s home on May 15, several days before the crime, and that B had reported it to the police.
A’s prior criminal record was also taken into account in sentencing. Investigators found that A had a criminal record that included being sentenced to three years in prison by the Seoul Eastern District Court in February 2024 for aggravated assault, trespassing, violating the Act on the Punishment, etc. of Stalking Crime, and other offenses, and being released from Gangneung Prison on March 29, 2026, after completing his sentence. The current crime occurred about 50 days after his release.
The panel explained its sentencing, saying, “The offense is serious, he has a record of similar offenses, and he is a repeat offender.” However, it considered it a mitigating circumstance that the victim told the court he did not want A punished.
Meanwhile, the court dismissed the assault charge against A. Assault is an offense for which a victim’s expressed wish not to punish the offender bars punishment, and B stated that he did not want A punished on September 10, after the indictment had been filed.
[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter