Actress and singer Nana. She is drawing attention for holding a certified fourth-degree black belt in Special Martial Arts. (Image source: Lotte Entertainment)
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean police have ruled that actress Nana, formerly of the K-pop group After School, and her mother acted in legitimate self-defense when they overpowered an armed intruder who broke into their home in Guri, northeast of Seoul.
The Guri Police Department said on Saturday that the suspect, a man in his 30s identified only as A, will be formally referred to prosecutors on November 24 on charges of aggravated robbery resulting in injury. Authorities determined that injuries he suffered while being subdued were justified under Korea’s self-defense statute.
According to police, the suspect climbed a ladder to reach the balcony of the family’s apartment early on the morning of November 15, found an unlocked door, and entered holding a weapon.
He allegedly demanded money and attacked Nana’s mother, choking her when she encountered him. Hearing her mother’s screams, Nana awoke and joined the struggle, and together the two managed to restrain the man’s arm until police arrived.
The suspect sustained a laceration to the jaw from his own weapon during the fight, investigators said. Police examined the circumstances under Article 21 of Korea’s Criminal Act, which allows the use of force to repel an ongoing unlawful attack under reasonable grounds.
Officers concluded that the women faced an immediate threat and did not inflict excessive harm, and therefore would not be charged.
Nana, formerly of the girl group After School, was ranked No. 1 on TC Candler’s “100 Most Beautiful Faces” list for two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015, earning wide recognition for her beauty both in Korea and abroad. (Photo source: Nana’s Instagram)
Nana’s agency said both she and her mother sustained injuries during the confrontation. Her mother briefly lost consciousness but has since recovered.
The suspect, who is unemployed and not known to the victims, told investigators he had assumed the home was empty and did not know a celebrity lived there. Police said there was no indication he was a stalker or had targeted Nana specifically.
Two days after his arrest, the man petitioned a court for a detention review, arguing that officers failed to inform him of his Miranda rights at the time of apprehension. The court dismissed his claim, which also extended his detention period, allowing police to proceed with his transfer to prosecutors next week.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
