This is one of the crazy parts of Korean society. Two American teenagers are free after stabbing a Korean taxi driver because their parents paid almost $5,000. Do Koreans care so much about money?

DAEGU, South Korea — Two American teens accused of stabbing a Waegwon taxi driver celebrated Independence Day by walking out of a Daegu courtroom free Wednesday.

Marcus Banks, 18, who was convicted of the March 20 stabbing of taxi driver Park Sang-hui during a dispute over an unpaid taxi fare, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for three years. His 16-year-old accomplice was sentenced on the same charges to one year and nine months in prison, but his sentence was suspended for two years.

Judge Yoon Jong-gu said he based his decision on the seriousness of the crime, the defendants$)C!/ ages and penalties for similar crimes in South Korea. The fact that both teens!/ families paid the victim financial settlements — a common practice in South Korea — also played a factor, Yoon said.

The 16-year-old!/s father, an Army major, paid the taxi driver four million won (about $4,400), Yoon said. Banks!/ mother, Staff Sgt. Sally Johnson, paid Park 500,000 won (about $550) and had offered an additional 2.5 million won (about $2,700), Yoon said. Park had rejected the offer, but Yoon said the court will keep the 2.5 million won to help pay Park!/s medical bills.

Full Story here.

__________________
YesAsia.com Ebay Store!

Visit USFK Classifieds, the FREE classifieds in Korea!

That says it all, as bad as the crime was....Get in a car accident, pay and be done. Has happened a few times, I know of. Of course they were not fatal or anything like that, just a fender bener....but paid money and nothing was ever said.

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

Paying off in cash occurs a lot in the U.S. also, these days!
Easily cheaper than increased premiums in most cases, since the insurance companies started really hiking insurance premiums with each accident, especially since the advent of "No-Fault Insurance".

(A bit risky if you think the guy might claim injuries later)! Personally, I'd give them a check marked "Accepted in full payment with no recourse".)

It is the way of the future. Pay for the estimated repair plus a little boot...
Many foreign drivers in Seoul carry $300-500 or won in cash, just for fender benders, etc. where there are no injuries.

Check out GI Korea's and Lost Nomad's blogs on this case. The news just before this gave the teen's side of the story, and it reads differently than the first account.

Using a knife in Korea, even in self-defense, is a huge no-no - no matter what though...