S Korean man gets 4 years for Yasukuni Shrine blast

How Japanese judges come up with sentences will always be beyond me.

How Japanese judges come up with sentences will always be beyond me.

Basic defense mistake, he didn't declare being drunk and not remembering anything.

Why did he come back? Martyrdom complex?

Why did he come back?

That's what I was wondering too.

SenseNotSoCommon: Why did he come back?

Article: was arrested when he returned on Dec 9—reportedly carrying two kilograms of gunpowder

I'm guessing it wasn't to begin a fireworks manufacturing company.

I remember when the story first broke, last year. First there was an article saying how the black powder wasn't gunpowder (come on now, we don't want to make security look lax now, do we?)

Then, a few days later, it was reported that it was indeed gunpowder (okay, so we make security look lax, but at least we get to nail our patsy)

Kobe White Bar Owner: "How Japanese judges come up with sentences will always be beyond me."

I've already explained it; they have two giant bell jars; one with verdicts, one with punishments (and a third, smaller one filled with only "suspended sentence" for politicians and celebrities). Hence, rape gets you 2.5 years, murder about three or four, theft of a ten yen coin gets you ten years, years of stimulant abuse and gambling gets you a fine and suspended sentence, on marijuana joint gets you ten years, causing a nuclear disaster gets you a suspended sentence, and creating a puff of smoke that harms no one gets you 4 years, like here.

Jeon Chang-Han at age 28 is a product of the institutional level anti-Japan sentiment that has been embedded into the South Korean education system for decades. The reason he gives for his actions, "to impress South Korean media" bears testimony to this fact. Unfortunately for Jeon Chang-Han, the tides have turned and the Park Administration is actively moving to stop this pattern, in both the South Korean education system and society as a whole. Meaning, there's not going to be any interest from his own government in his case. As they say, timing is everything.

How Japanese judges come up with sentences will always be beyond me.

Pretty simple. Beat your wife and kids while being Japanese - suspended sentence

Blow up a toilet while Korean - 4 years.

Good Post Ossan. Thank you.

Sentencing n Japan is discretionary. There is no 3 strikes and you are out, as in Australia where it is reserved for indigenous people of the north or in the US were it almost exclusively applies to minorities.

The judges take into consideration the remorse expressed by a person found guilty. The aim is to avoid recivitism. Which is very low in Japan compared with most other countries. A confession is seen as an indication of remorse and therefore a step towards rehabilitation. Of course these tactics only apply in a theoretical world but have shown some fruit in Japan.

Jeon Chang Han commited a crime, left the country and then came back to commit repeat crime. This would indicate that he didn't feel much regret about his first attempt. Also we have only been given a glimpse of his statement in court, that he wanted to impress the Korean media. I imagine that he made other statements that convinced the judges to throw the book at him.

Maybe I am wrong though.

gary

garymalmgren: "A confession is seen as an indication of remorse and therefore a step towards rehabilitation. Of course these tactics only apply in a theoretical world but have shown some fruit in Japan."

What on earth are you talking about? First, the Japanese system has been clear it is NOT about rehabilitation one iota. Second, if you're being honest about this and that confession can lead to reduced sentencing and what not, why didn't this guy get one since he confessed and showed remorse? If anything these added to his sentence since the prosecution was seeking "terrorism" charges. If the judges here HONESTLY charged people according to incidents that could have lead to "serious incidents", then how on earth are actual serious incidents getting suspended sentences?

"I imagine that he made other statements that convinced the judges to throw the book at him."

Then you admit it is anything but objective.

"Maybe I am wrong though."

No maybes at all.

"Sentencing n Japan is discretionary."

That's a nice way of saying whimsical and wishy-washy.

The dude is set for life. He will be welcomed home as a hero, and will be making millions writing memoirs and giving patriotic speeches, inspiring others to do something more drastic, like throwing a bomb into the main shrine at Yasukuni.

Just flew the route between Japan, Korea and the UK. I was shocked to see a gentleman opening a thermos flask and drinking hot tea shortly after take-off. How the hell did he get that through what to me looked like tough security in Seoul?

Let alone carrying large bags of gunpowder through, not once, but twice!!!

The Han is strong with this one.

Only the one Yasukuni charge, then?

Sounds like a plea bargain, or something political.