Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Man jailed for assaulting woman after being told to leave ladies' room
gettyimagesbank
By Jung Min-ho
A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for brutally assaulting a woman after being asked to leave the ladies’ room at Busan Station last year.
The Busan District Court convicted the man, in his 50s, of inflicting severe injuries including a skull fracture on the victim, in her 50s, in an obvious attempt to kill her on Oct. 29.
He told police later that he was upset because of her complaint about him being in the ladies’ bathroom.
Investigators had initially considered pressing assault charges against him. But after securing evidence that he repeatedly and specifically struck her head and other body parts near vital organs, the prosecution indicted him on an attempted murder charge instead.
He was also ordered to wear a location-tracking electronic anklet for 10 years after finishing his time behind bars.
Judges rejected his claim that he did not have an intention to kill her, saying he was apparently aware of that risk.
“After rendering her unconscious in a brutal attack, he left the scene, knowing the possibility of her death,” the court said. “It was unprovoked violence aimed at a random person, which he deserves a heavy penalty for.”