Prosecutors seek seven-year sentence for person accused of setting fires ...

Suwon District Court in Suwon, Gyeonggi, is seen in this file photo. [YONHAP]

Prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence for a person accused of setting fires at seven locations around Mount Paldal in Suwon, Gyeonggi, home to Unesco World Heritage site Hwaseong Fortress.

Prosecutors requested the defendant's sentence for violating the act on preventing forest disaster during the final hearing held Thursday at Suwon District Court.

“Please take into consideration the possibility that cultural heritage sites could have been damaged,” the prosecutor said while explaining the sentencing request. No cultural heritage sites were damaged in the fires.

The defendant's lawyer said in the closing argument, “The defendant deeply regrets failing to exercise restraint and committing a similar offense during the repeat-offense period,” adding, “Please take into account in sentencing that the extent of the wildfire damage was relatively limited.”

The defendant also asked for leniency, citing his

unstable mental state at the time.

“I was emotionally distressed after my grandmother passed away and drank alcohol before unknowingly committing the crime,” the defendant said in the final statement. “I have reflected deeply while in detention. I ask for leniency.”

The defendant was indicted on charges of setting fires at seven locations around Mount Paldal at around 11:10 a.m. on March 12.

The fires burned shrubs near the entrance to the command post Seojangdae hiking trail, around the city’s central library, near the summit of Mount Paldal and around the Paldal spring area.

Police arrested the defendant near the scene about 30 minutes after the incident. Two lighters were found in the defendant’s possession at the time.

The defendant initially denied the allegations during questioning, saying he was “only out for a walk,” but later admitted to all charges at trial.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.