Man gets 6 months for 'revenge-for-hire' door vandalism, a crime condemned by president

A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to six months in prison for his role in a "revenge-for-hire" scheme, which involved vandalizing a front door with paint and eggs. The Incheon District Court handed down the sentence on Tuesday for charges including property damage.

The court cited the defendant's admission of guilt and the lack of forgiveness from the victim as reasons for the sentence. However, it also considered his clean criminal record for offenses exceeding a fine and his pledge not to re-offend.

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Private revenge-for-hire is a serious crime for both the person asked to do it and the person asking.

Prosecutors had initially sought a one-year sentence, highlighting the criminal nature of the revenge-for-hire act and the failure to reach a settlement with the victims. The defendant confessed to acting on instructions from an intermediary organization found on Telegram, posing as a quick-service delivery driver to carry out the vandalism in Incheon. He admitted to three similar acts in other regions, having been promised between 1 million and 2 million won for successful completion, though he did not receive the payment due to his arrest.

This case drew significant attention after President Lee Jae-myung publicly denounced such "front door terrorism" on social media on May 15. He emphasized that private disputes must be resolved through legal channels in a civilized society, condemning both the perpetrators and those who hire them as committing serious crimes.

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Private disputes must be resolved according to the rule of law in a modern civilized society.