A man who was indicted for fatally assaulting his goshiwon landlord after being told to leave has been sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Supreme Court. This decision aligns with the previous rulings from the lower courts.
The Supreme Court's 1st Division, led by Chief Justice Seo Kyung-hwan, upheld the 2nd trial's ruling of 17 years in prison on appeal for Mr. Kang, who was charged with murder and assault, on Feb. 18.
Mr. Kang reportedly had a confrontation with his goshiwon landlord, Mr. A, last June in the Yeongdeungpo District of Seoul, after being told, "I will give you one month's rent for the goshiwon, so please vacate your room." It was reported that Mr. Kang had frequently been involved in disputes with Mr. A and other residents.
During this time, when another goshiwon resident told Mr. Kang, "The landlord asked you to leave, so look for another room," Mr. Kang assaulted him. When Mr. A attempted to report this to the police, Mr. Kang physically assaulted Mr. A multiple times. Subsequently, Mr. A was taken to the hospital but died in July of the same year from a traumatic brain hemorrhage.
In the first trial, Mr. Kang was sentenced to 17 years in prison in December. He was also ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor for 10 years. The trial court stated, "Considering the nature and brutality of the crime, as well as the severity of the outcome, the nature of the offense is extremely poor. Murder is the act of taking away a person's life, which is the highest legal protectable interest by law, and its consequences are very serious, making it impossible to restore the damage, and therefore, it cannot be tolerated for any reason, necessitating a severe punishment that corresponds to it."
Both Mr. Kang and the prosecution appealed the first trial verdict, but the second trial court dismissed both appeals in April. The second trial court remarked, "Mr. Kang continues to present incomprehensible reasons and claims that the responsibility for the murder lies with the victim, Mr. A, showing no remorse whatsoever. It is appropriate to isolate Mr. Kang from society for an extended period to prevent recidivism and to allow him to genuinely realize his wrongdoing during his incarceration and live with a repentant heart towards the victim and the victim's family."
Mr. Kang appealed the second trial ruling as well. However, the Supreme Court found no issues with the second trial verdict and confirmed the 17-year sentence.