Korean Man Sentenced to 3½ Years for Boiling Water Attack on Thai Wife

A Uijeongbu district court sentenced a 40‑year‑old Korean man to three years and six months in prison for pouring boiling water on his sleeping Thai wife, causing severe facial burns. The crime occurred on December 3, 2023, in an apartment in Ho-won‑dong, Uijeongbu, and the victim was taken to a specialized burn hospital in Seoul.

The judge noted the cruelty of the act, describing it as “unthinkable” and emphasizing the high risk of re‑offence. Prosecutors had sought a three‑year term, but the court imposed a heavier sentence, citing the violent intent to prevent the wife from meeting other men. The victim’s relatives first publicised the assault on social media, drawing attention from Thai media. Although the wife initially filed a non‑prosecution request, she later withdrew it after consulting with an immigrant‑rights group.