▲ Deoksan Beach with a warning sign installed after a fatal accident


The person in charge of safety management was also sentenced to prison in the second trial in connection with the death of two college students while playing in the water at a beach that was not properly equipped with safety equipment.



Today (27th), Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch 1st Detective Division (Chief Judge Bok-gyu Choi) dismissed the appeal filed by A (51), who was charged with manslaughter on the job, and sentenced him to one year of imprisonment as in the original trial.



A is the drowning of a college student B (20) and a college student C (19), who were swept away by a rip current while swimming at Deoksan Beach in Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do at around 5:40 pm in July 2019. He was handed over to trial on charges of not fulfilling his duty to prevent safety accidents related to the case.



At the time of the accident, the beach was not properly equipped with safety equipment, including safety buoys, and there were only two people working at the beach where there should be four safety personnel according to regulations.



Even though they were working hours, Mr. B and others had already withdrawn from the beach by the time the accident occurred.



In the first trial, the court sentenced A to a prison sentence, but A appealed on the grounds that the sentencing was unfair.



B's father, who died at the appeals trial held today, appealed, "It feels like the bereaved family is serving a life sentence without parole or commutation." He said, "Life itself is painful and there is no hope."



The court of appeals dismissed Mr. A's appeal, explaining the reason for the sentencing, saying, "There was no apology to the bereaved family, and there was no attempt to reach an agreement.



On the other hand, safety managers D and E, who were previously brought to trial on the same charges, admitted all the charges in the first trial.



The court sentenced them to 1 year in prison and 2 years of probation, 240 hours of community service, and 10 months in prison and 2 years of probation, 200 hours of community service, respectively.



D and E did not file separate appeals, so the sentences were confirmed.



This is a 'news pick'.



(Photo = Yonhap News)