Appeals court upholds prison sentence for 'revenge-for-hire' vandal

An appeals court has upheld a six-month prison sentence for a man involved in organized "revenge-for-hire" crimes, which included vandalizing property and dumping waste at victims' residences. The Seoul Southern District Court's appellate division confirmed the initial ruling against Lee, 33, who was convicted of trespassing and property damage.

Lee was accused of carrying out these acts in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, and Gwangjin District, Seoul. His crimes involved spray-painting profanities on front doors and scattering trash and other offensive materials. He reportedly joined the group after seeking work to cover his living expenses and was contacted by an individual known as 'Team Leader Min.'

During the trial, Lee attempted to argue that he was unaware his actions were illegal. He claimed he did not know that entering a residence while someone was exiting constituted trespassing, nor was he aware of the legal definition of property damage. However, the court dismissed these claims, stating that such assertions amounted to mere ignorance of the law, not a valid legal defense that would negate the illegality of his actions.

The court's decision underscores the legal consequences for individuals participating in such organized criminal activities, even if they claim a lack of legal knowledge. The ruling reinforces that ignorance of the law is not a defense against criminal charges.

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The defendant claims he did not know that entering the front door when someone else was coming out constituted trespassing, and that he did not know about the crime of property damage under the Criminal Act. However, this is mere ignorance of the law and does not meet the requirements for the exclusion of illegality under Article 16 of the Criminal Act.