A man in his 50s faces one year in prison after igniting a butane gas explosion in his Gumi villa home following his girlfriend’s breakup announcement.
Details of the Incident
On December 15, 2024, the suspect, referred to as Mr. A, argued with his live-in girlfriend, Ms. B, at their shared villa in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. After she declared the end of their relationship and left, Mr. A punctured three butane gas canisters, poured oil into them, and ignited the mixture with a lighter. The blast forced nearby residents to evacuate and caused approximately 40 million won ($29,000) in structural damage.
Court Ruling
The 11th Criminal Division of the Daegu District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Young-chul, handed down the one-year sentence on charges of property damage by explosion. The ruling highlights Mr. A’s intoxicated state and impulsive reaction to the breakup as mitigating factors.
Judge Lee Young-chul explained the sentencing, stating, “Mr. A acted rashly while drunk upon receiving the breakup notice from his girlfriend. However, the harm extended to other residents in the same villa and surrounding areas outweighs the circumstances of the breakup.”
