A sasaeng fan who illegally entered NewJeans’ former dorm and stole items has been fined ₩10 million (approximately $7,200 USD).
On the 23rd KST, the Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 9, presided over by Judge Kim Min Jung, sentenced the defendant (referred to as A) to a fine of ₩10 million in the first trial. Prosecutors had previously requested a 10-month prison sentence. A was charged with trespassing and theft.
The court explained its sentencing by stating:
“The defendant admitted to the crime during the investigation, showed remorse, and had no prior criminal record. These factors were taken into account in determining the sentence.”
The fact that NewJeans was no longer residing at the dorm at the time of the incident was also considered in the ruling.
“There was relatively low risk of directly infringing on the group’s privacy,” the judge noted.
During a previous hearing, A stated:
“I acted rashly and made a serious mistake. I sincerely apologize to the artist and the agency I had supported for causing harm. Please allow me the opportunity to pursue my long-held dream of becoming a public servant.”
A had unlawfully entered the group’s former residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on December 18th, 2023. After confirming the door was unlocked, A returned on December 21st and entered the dorm again. They stole items such as hangers and banners, and even uploaded footage of the dorm online.
At the time of the incident, the dorm was unoccupied—NewJeans had vacated the premises in early December following the termination of their contract with ADOR.
SEE ALSO: