South Korean Man Fined for Threatening Wife During Divorce

A recent court ruling in Seoul has handed down a fine of 3 million won to a 60-year-old man accused of threatening his wife amidst their ongoing divorce proceedings. The case, adjudicated by Judge Kwak Yoon-kyung at the Seoul Eastern District Court, highlights the legal ramifications of verbal threats, even when delivered via text message.

According to the investigation, the man sent a total of six text messages to his wife between late December 2024 and early January 2025. These messages contained explicit threats, such as vowing to "smash everything and make it impossible to live there," alongside derogatory terms like 'thief' and 'scammer.' He also pressured her regarding financial matters, demanding his money back and hinting at physical harm.

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I will smash everything and make it impossible to live there, just you wait.

The defense argued that the man lacked the actual intent to carry out these threats, thus negating the charge of intimidation. However, the court rejected this argument, stating that the legal definition of intimidation is met once the recipient perceives the threat and experiences fear, irrespective of the sender's actual intent. The court emphasized that the defendant's statements were sufficient to instill fear in a reasonable person, upholding the conviction for intimidation and violation of the Information and Communications Network Act.

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The defendant's statements are sufficient to cause fear in the other party.