Man Fined for Breaking into NewJeans' Former Dormitory

A man in his twenties has been fined for breaking into the former dormitory of the girl group NewJeans. On July 23, the Seoul Western District Court, presided over by Judge Kim Min-jung, sentenced 28-year-old Kim to a fine of 10 million won for theft and trespassing.

Kim was charged with illegally entering the group's previous residence in Yongsan, Seoul, twice in December of last year, where he stole items such as hangers and banners, and filmed the interior to post online. At the time of the incidents, the NewJeans members had vacated the premises after notifying their agency, Ador, of the termination of their contracts in November.

During the sentencing hearing on June 11, prosecutors sought a 10-month prison term for Kim. He acknowledged all charges but pleaded for leniency, stating that he would care for his ill mother if given a chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a public servant.

The court noted that the location of the crime was a former residence of the celebrities, which reduced the risk of direct invasion of privacy. It also considered Kim's admission of guilt and remorse during the investigation, as well as the fact that he had no prior criminal record, when determining the sentence.