1. Introduction to the text
This article discusses the court rulings for the so-called “West District Court Riot” that occurred in January. The court has been handing down prison sentences, especially for those who illegally entered the courthouse, even if they acknowledged their wrongdoing and expressed remorse.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 법원에 | beobwone | to the courthouse | They illegally entered the courthouse. |
| 법원 | beobwon | courthouse | The court has been handing down prison sentences for those who invaded the courthouse. |
| 선고받았습니다 | seonggobadasseumnida | was sentenced | Those who illegally entered the courthouse have all been sentenced to prison terms. |
| 있습니다 | issseumnida | is, are | It appears that harsh sentences are inevitable for the remaining defendants. |
| 재판부는 | jaepanbuneun | the court | The court has been handing down prison sentences, especially for those who illegally entered the courthouse. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
지난 1월 벌어진 이른바 ‘서부지법 폭동’으로 100명 가까이 재판에 넘겨졌습니다. 현재까지 10여 명에게 선고가 내려졌는데, 법원에 침입한 사람들은 예외 없이 모두 실형을 선고받았습니다.
Around 100 people were brought to trial for the so-called “West District Court Riot” that occurred last January. So far, sentences have been handed down to about 10 people, and those who illegally entered the courthouse have all been sentenced to prison terms without exception.
특히, 법원 당직실 유리창을 깨고 판사실이 있는 7층까지 올라간 이른바 ‘녹색 점퍼남’은 징역 3년 6개월을 선고받았습니다.
In particular, the so-called “man in the green jacket” who broke the glass of the courthouse duty room and went up to the 7th floor where the judges’ offices are located was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison.
재판부는 특히 법원에 무단침입한 경우, 범행을 인정하고 반성하더라도 실형을 선고하고 있습니다. 앞으로 남은 피고인들에게도 엄벌이 불가피해 보입니다.
The court has been handing down prison sentences, especially for those who illegally entered the courthouse, even if they acknowledged their wrongdoing and expressed remorse. It appears that harsh sentences are inevitable for the remaining defendants as well.
둔기로 창문 유리를 깨부수고 철제 셔터를 강제로 들어 올리더니 떼를 지어 법원에 난입합니다. 지난 1월 윤석열 전 대통령 구속영장이 발부되자 서울서부지방법원에서는 헌정사상 초유의 법원 습격 사태가 벌어졌습니다.
They broke the window glass with blunt weapons, forcibly lifted the metal shutters, and then stormed the courthouse in groups. When the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol was issued last January, an unprecedented courthouse invasion incident occurred at the Seoul Western District Court.
법원에 대해서 직접적인 물리력을 행사하는 것은 죄질이 상당히 좋지가 않습니다. 법원의 권위와 중립성을 훼손하는 행위이기 때문에 엄중한 처벌이 불가피한 것 같습니다.
Directly using physical force against the courthouse is considered a very serious offense. It is an act that undermines the authority and neutrality of the court, so severe punishment seems inevitable.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- How many people were brought to trial for the “West District Court Riot”?
- What was the sentence for the “man in the green jacket” who broke into the courthouse?
- Why has the court been handing down prison sentences, even for those who acknowledged their wrongdoing?
- What happened at the Seoul Western District Court when the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol was issued?
- Why does the lawyer say that using physical force against the courthouse is considered a very serious offense?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The “West District Court Riot” refers to a major incident that occurred at the Seoul Western District Court in January, when a large group of people stormed the courthouse after the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol was issued. This was an unprecedented event in the history of South Korea’s judiciary, and the court has been taking a strong stance in sentencing those involved, even if they showed remorse, in order to protect the authority and neutrality of the judicial system.