A 19-year-old man who attempted to set fire to a Seoul courthouse during a violent protest following the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to five years in prison. This is the heaviest sentence among the 49 individuals charged in connection with the incident.
The Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 11, presided over by Judge Kim Woo Hyun, delivered the verdict on August 1. The defendant, identified only by his surname Shim, was found guilty of multiple offenses including unlawful entry into a government facility and obstruction of justice.
Shim broke into the courthouse on January 16, 2025, during a protest sparked by Yoon’s arrest. He assaulted police officers who were blocking access and climbed through a shattered window to gain entry into the building. According to prosecutors, he also encouraged others to pour flammable liquid and threw a lit piece of paper in an apparent arson attempt.
Following the sentencing, Shim collapsed in tears and cried out, “My life is over. I don’t even have a single prior offense as a juvenile,” before showing signs of respiratory distress.
The court stated that Shim not only assaulted police officers and physically resisted their efforts but also aggressively entered the courthouse through a broken window. He then went to a nearby convenience store to purchase a lighter and attempted to start a fire, posing a serious threat to judicial authority and public safety. The court concluded that a heavy sentence was unavoidable.
However, the court also considered mitigating circumstances. These included Shim’s admission of guilt, his expression of remorse, and the fact that he was under the age of 19 at the time of the crime.
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