Man Fined for Breaking Into NewJeans Dorm and Stealing Items

A man in his 20s has been fined for illegally entering the former dormitory of K-pop group NewJeans and stealing items.

The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the man to a fine of 10 million won (approximately $7,200) for trespassing and theft. Prosecutors had previously sought a 10-month prison sentence.

The court explained its decision, noting that the dormitory was no longer occupied by NewJeans members at the time of the crime. It also considered that the man had confessed early in the investigation, showed remorse, and had no prior criminal record.

At the final public hearing on June 11, the man admitted to all charges and pleaded for leniency, telling the court, “Please give me a chance to pursue my dream of becoming a public servant. I will live responsibly and take care of my sick mother.”

The incident occurred in December of last year, after NewJeans had terminated their contract with agency ADOR and vacated the dorm. He reportedly broke in twice and stole miscellaneous items, including placards and clothes hangers.

In a separate incident in August last year, threatening online posts surfaced that mentioned the NewJeans dormitory and even detailed the number of rooms inside, sparking concern among fans. However, it has not been confirmed whether he was responsible for those posts.

This case especially sparked public outrage after it was revealed that the perpetrator aspired to become a public servant. Netizens reacted with comments such as: “So what if he wants to be a public servant?”, “Wouldn’t it be a bigger problem if someone like him became a public servant?”, “Ugh, that’s so creepy…”, “It would be even worse if he actually became one”, “Criminals out”, “They reduced his sentence because it happened after NewJeans terminated their contract with ADOR and moved out…?”

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