A, a former grade-7 driver-class civil servant with Yangyang-gun in Gangwon Province, who faces gapjil allegations against sanitation workers [Yonhap]
A, a former grade-7 driver-class civil servant with Yangyang-gun in Gangwon Province, who faces gapjil allegations against sanitation workers [Yonhap]

A former civil servant in Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province, who subjected sanitation workers under his supervision to workplace gapjil — including a so-called "martial law game" — has had his 1-year-and-8-month prison sentence finalized.

Neither the defendant, identified only as A, nor prosecutors filed an appeal by Thursday, the deadline, following the appellate court's ruling on Aug. 13. A had served as a grade-7 driver-class civil servant with Yangyang-gun. With no appeal from either side, the second-instance ruling upholding the 1-year-and-8-month sentence became final.

A's defense attorney, Ryu Jae-yul of law firm Jungsim, said the defense had appealed in hopes of reaching a settlement with the victims, but that the victims made clear during the appellate proceedings that they did not wish to settle. "We will accept the appellate court's outcome," Ryu said. "He will reflect deeply and serve his sentence during the remaining term."

A was indicted on charges of coercion, assault, intimidation and insult for subjecting three sanitation workers in their 20s — one permanent and two contract employees — under his command to workplace gapjil and harassment from July through November last year.

According to the indictment, A abused his authority by deliberately parking the garbage collection vehicle far from work sites to force the victims to walk or run after it, and by intentionally driving slowly to delay their work.

When his stock holdings fell in value, he declared, "I will proclaim emergency martial law until the share price reaches the level I want," and threatened, "If you don't listen, I will trample you as a sacrifice."

He also forced the victims to perform "meongseokmari" — a hazing ritual in which one person is made to lie face-down on the ground while others are ordered to step on them.

He repeatedly told the victims they needed to wear red underwear to boost his stock prices and forced them to show whether they were complying. He also pressured them to buy shares of the stock, claiming the price was not rising because they refused to purchase it.

He assaulted the victims dozens of times — throwing cigarette butts at them and firing a BB gun — and made no effort to restrain himself from hurling insults.

Throughout this conduct, A told the victims he was "playing martial law."

A admitted to all charges in court and submitted multiple letters of remorse, appealing for leniency.

He attempted to reach settlements with the victims, but they appeared in both the first and second trials to read out petitions demanding severe punishment and to formally reject any settlement.

The first-instance court sentenced A to 1 year and 8 months in prison, citing the serious nature of the offenses and the high degree of culpability.

Prosecutors, who had sought a 5-year sentence, appealed on the grounds that the punishment was too lenient, while A argued it was too harsh. The appellate court rejected both appeals, noting that the victims "are suffering mental and psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder."

Meanwhile, Gangwon Province convened a disciplinary committee in April and dismissed A from his post.

A challenged the dismissal through a civil service appeal, but the province rejected it.


mss@heraldcorp.com