The Korea Herald

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Court jails right-wing activist for breaking into Cheong Wa Dae

By Ock Hyun-ju

Published : April 10, 2016 - 16:35

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A Seoul court said Sunday that the head of a conservative organization had been sentenced to 10 months in prison for driving a car into the presidential office premises without permission.

The Seoul Central District Court jailed the 58-year-old, identified only by his surname Oh, on charges of obstruction of government affairs after he ignored a guard’s request to stop the car and rushed the car into Cheong Wa Dae on March 10.

Before he attempted to drive into the presidential office, Oh was stopped by the police while shouting and threatening to explode the presidential office in front of the building, the court said.

“Oh seems to regret his behavior, but his crime is not light,” the judge said in the ruling. “Given his history and other circumstances, it is likely that he would commit such a crime again.”

Oh has been notorious for attempting to break into the presidential office and the building of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on multiple occasions over the past years, according to the court.

Oh created a stir earlier this year after revealing that a public official from the Maritime Ministry had suggested he sue the deceased families of those who died in the Sewol ferry sinking on April 16, 2014. Oh claimed that the official had taken issue with the families criticizing President Park Geun-hye.

By Lee Hyun Jeong (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)