A man in his 50s, who is facing trial for 'coin fraud' charges, was sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial for attempting to kill a defendant with a weapon.
The 12th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court, presided over by Judge Kim Jeong-gon, sentenced Mr. Kang (51) to five years in prison on the 4th for attempted murder and court disturbance, and stated that the seized knife and gloves would be confiscated.
The court stated, "Even considering that the defendant caused substantial economic damage related to the business operated by the victim, any private retaliation that unjustly infringes on individual legal interests cannot be permitted under our legal order."
Furthermore, the court noted, "In order to safeguard the judicial functions of the court and firmly establish legal order in the courtroom, as well as to protect the safety of all citizens and court staff entering the court and restore social trust, we will impose severe penalties on the defendant's crime."
Mr. Kang is accused of attacking Mr. Lee (40), the representative of the virtual asset deposit service company Haru Invest, who was indicted for 'coin fraud,' intending to kill him using a knife he had secretly kept. Kang was arrested on the spot immediately after the crime.
Mr. Kang has been investigated as a victim of Haru Invest's 'withdrawal suspension incident.' In 2023, when Haru Invest suddenly halted all withdrawal services, Kang was found to have been unable to retrieve approximately 6.4 billion won worth of virtual assets he had deposited with the company. Mr. Lee is currently facing trial for allegedly embezzling approximately 1.4 trillion won in coins from around 16,000 people, including Kang.