A man in his 50s who punched his elementary school-age son in anger over the boy's video gaming has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.
Judge Song In-cheol of Ulsan District Court's Criminal Division 9 sentenced the man, identified only as A, to one year in prison suspended for two years on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act.
Last November, A saw his son playing video games at the family home in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and struck the boy about 20 times in the head and body with his fists. Later that night, when A tried to sleep beside his son and the boy pushed him away, he again lost his temper and hit the child roughly 10 more times in the head.
Police responded and removed A from the home, issuing an emergency protective order barring him from coming within 100 meters of the residence. A nonetheless attempted to re-enter the home, causing further distress to his son.
"The defendant had previously abused his son — both physically and psychologically — on multiple occasions," the court said in explaining the sentence. It added that it took into account A's remorse and the fact that his son did not wish to see his father punished.
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