Man's sentence reduced on appeal for tea house arson fueled by rejection

An appeals court in South Korea has reduced the sentence for a 77-year-old man who set fire to a tea house after its owner rejected his romantic advances. The man was initially sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison but will now serve 1 year and 3 months.

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The defendant claims that 'it is a commercial building, so he did not know the victim resided there.'

The incident occurred in September when the man, identified as A, set fire to a tea house in Cheongju. The fire damaged approximately half of the establishment, which is located in a multi-story commercial building. The court's decision to reduce the sentence was based on a re-evaluation of the arson charges.

The appellate court, presided over by Judge Kim Jin-seok, ruled that A was not guilty of arson against a residential building. The court noted that the building's exterior suggested it was a commercial space, making it difficult to assume it was used for residence. However, the court found A guilty of arson against a general building, as this charge was included in the indictment.

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In reality, the building is located on the street and is a commercial building, and it is difficult to judge it as residential just by looking at the exterior.

Prosecutors had charged A with arson for setting fire to the tea house. He had reportedly frequented the establishment since November of the previous year, developing an obsession with the owner, identified as B. The court acknowledged A's defense that he did not know the building was inhabited, as it appeared to be a commercial property from the street.

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We will find him not guilty of arson against a residential building, but since the indictment includes arson against a general building, we acknowledge that content as guilty.