Incheon court jails Chinese woman for six months for vandalising former coworker's car
In short
A Chinese woman in her 30s has been sentenced to six months in prison by the Incheon District Court for damaging a former coworker's car, Yonhap reported on October 8. She spray-painted profanities in red lacquer over the car of the woman in her 50s and smashed a side mirror in an underground car park in Songdo-dong, Incheon, on June 29. Investigators found she acted because the victim had nagged her when they worked together.
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A Chinese woman in her 30s has been sentenced to six months in prison for damaging the car of a former coworker, Yonhap reported on October 8. Judge Kim Ji-hu (김지후) of the Incheon District Court's Criminal Single Division 2 handed down the term on a charge of special property damage, the court said on October 8. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the outlets, the defendant damaged the car of a woman in her 50s, a former coworker, at about 10:20 on June 29 in the underground car park of a nine-storey commercial building in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. She wrote profanities over the entire car in red lacquer spray and broke a side mirror with a tool she had prepared beforehand. Yonhap, Seoul Shinmun and Maeil Business describe the tool as a portable blunt object; Dong-A Ilbo says it was a hand axe, which she used to strike the mirror several times. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Dong-A Ilbo reported that the car was an Avante and that the graffiti covered paintwork, glass and wheels on the front, back and both sides. It said the repairs were estimated at about 12.16 million won. [ 3 ]
Investigators found that the defendant acted because the victim had nagged her when they worked at the same workplace, leaving her with bad feelings. Dong-A Ilbo reported that she planned the act for that reason. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The court said the crime was planned and of a poor nature, and that, given how and why it was carried out and the extent of the damage, her culpability was not light. It said it set the sentence taking into account that she had no criminal record and was remorseful. Dong-A Ilbo reported that the court also counted her failure to reach a settlement with the victim against her, and counted in her favour that she admitted wrongdoing and had deposited 2 million won with the court for the victim. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Maeil Business's closing summary placed the offence in June of last year, while its own main text and the other outlets give June 29 of this year. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The court treated the act as a planned crime and imposed a prison term rather than a lighter penalty, though it weighed the defendant's lack of a criminal record and her remorse. The case was reported by the national news agency and several major dailies, which highlighted the defendant's nationality and the workplace grievance behind the damage.
Key facts
- Judge Kim Ji-hu (김지후) of the Incheon District Court sentenced a Chinese national in her 30s to six months in prison for special property damage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The damage took place at about 10:20 on June 29 in the underground car park of a commercial building in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The victim was a former coworker, a woman in her 50s. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The defendant wrote profanities over the car with red lacquer spray and broke a side mirror with a tool she had brought in advance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Investigators found she acted because the victim had nagged her when they worked at the same workplace. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reported that the car, an Avante, needed about 12.16 million won in repairs. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reported that the defendant deposited 2 million won with the court for the victim and did not reach a settlement with her. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Incheon District Court sentenced the Chinese woman in her 30s to six months in prison on a charge of special property damage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The offence took place at about 10:20 on June 29 in an underground car park in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- She sprayed profanities on the former coworker's car in red lacquer and broke a side mirror with a tool prepared in advance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The motive was resentment over nagging from the victim at their shared workplace. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The court called it a planned crime of a poor nature but took into account that she had no criminal record and showed remorse. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The tool used to break the side mirror. Yonhap, Seoul Shinmun and Maeil Business describe a portable blunt object; Dong-A Ilbo says it was a hand axe.
- The repair cost of about 12.16 million won and the car model. Only Dong-A Ilbo reports these details.
- The 2 million won deposit and the lack of a settlement with the victim. Only Dong-A Ilbo reports these points from the ruling.
- The year of the offence. Maeil Business's closing summary says June of last year, while its own main text and the other outlets say this June.
- The exact date of sentencing. The outlets say the court announced the sentence on October 8 but do not state the day it was handed down.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- June 29: the defendant damages her former coworker's car in an underground car park in Songdo-dong, Incheon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- October 8: Yonhap reports the six-month prison sentence. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports the sentence, citing legal circles. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports further details including the repair cost and the court deposit. [ 3 ]
- Maeil Business reports the sentence. [ 4 ]