Landlord Fined for Breaking Down Door, Assaulting Tenant Over Unpaid Rent

A landlord in her 70s has been ordered to pay a 1 million won fine for forcibly entering a tenant's home and assaulting them due to long-overdue rent payments. The incident occurred when the landlord, identified as Ms. A, broke down the tenant's front door and attacked the tenant, Mr. B, who was asleep inside.

The court found Ms. A guilty of trespassing and assault. Prosecutors had initially sought a summary order for a fine, but Ms. A contested this, leading to a formal trial. During the proceedings, her defense argued that Mr. B had opened the door himself, thus negating the trespassing charge, and that any unfolding of an umbrella used in the alleged assault was accidental, without intent to harm.

However, the Busan District Court's Criminal Division 10, presided over by Judge Huh Sung-min, rejected these claims. The court's decision was based on the tenant's testimony and photographic evidence from the scene, which contradicted the landlord's account. The ruling underscores the legal consequences for landlords who resort to illegal means to collect rent, emphasizing the sanctity of a tenant's dwelling.