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CHUNCHEON, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean court has ruled that a stepfather who nailed a window shut to stop his teenage stepson from opening it during winter did not commit emotional abuse, determining that the restriction was minimal and easily reversible.
According to legal sources Sunday, the 51-year-old man, identified by his surname A, had been accused of emotional abuse after driving nails into the window frame of the room used by his 17-year-old stepson, B. Prosecutors argued that the act constituted psychological mistreatment.
Both the district and appellate courts, however, found A not guilty, saying the measure did not completely block ventilation and that B could still open the window slightly. The judges also noted that given B’s age and education level, he could have easily removed the nails with a screwdriver if he wished.
The courts further considered testimony from B’s mother, who said her son often slept with the window open despite cold weather and that the nails appeared to have been installed after discussion between A and B.
The panel also dismissed allegations that A emotionally abused B by throwing the teenager’s computer monitor to the floor, citing inconsistent testimonies from B and his mother.
However, the court upheld a separate conviction against A for verbally abusing his wife in front of his 10-year-old son, ruling it as emotional abuse. A received a suspended fine of 300,000 won (about $220).
The Chuncheon District Court’s appellate division rejected the prosecution’s appeal, saying there was no error in the lower court’s interpretation of the facts or law and no new circumstances warranting a heavier sentence.
Jerry M. Kim (jerry_kim@koreabizwire.com)
