Calculators & Self-ChecksProsecution Request Estimator

Special assault: statutory penalty and likely requested sentence

The statutory penalty for Special assault and the likely handling of the case depending on your circumstances. The results are for reference only.

Statutory penalty
Up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million
Legal basis
Criminal Act, Article 261
Category
Violence

Calculate with your own circumstances

How serious was the assault?
Who was more to blame for the fight?
Prior violence convictions (fine or heavier)

The number of times you received a fine or a heavier sentence for a violent crime such as injury, assault, intimidation or property damage. A suspension of indictment does not count.

Answer all 3 questions and the estimate appears right away. (0/3)

What the handling steps mean

  1. Detention considered · Detention (구속): being held in custody during the investigation and trial under a court warrant when there is a risk of fleeing or destroying evidence
  2. Formal trial · Formal trial (구공판): the prosecutor asks the court for a trial, and you stand before a judge in a courtroom
  3. Summary fine · Summary indictment (약식기소): a procedure in which a fine is set on the documents, without a trial in a courtroom
  4. Suspension of indictment possible · Suspension of indictment (기소유예): the wrongdoing is recognized, but the prosecutor takes various circumstances into account and closes the case without sending it to trial
  5. Referral to the Family Court possible · Domestic or juvenile protection case: instead of criminal punishment, the Family Court imposes protective dispositions such as counseling, a no-contact order or community service

Handling standards at a glance

Listed from heaviest to lightest. The actual decision depends on the results of the investigation and your circumstances.

  1. Detention considered

    Likely requested sentence
    4 months to 1 year 10 months in prison

    If you have 2 or more violence convictions within the last 3 years, including a suspended sentence or heavier, investigation in detention is in practice treated almost as the rule when you use violence again.

  2. Formal trial (prison sentence requested)

    Likely requested sentence
    4 months to 1 year 10 months in prison

    With several prior violence convictions (2 or more within 3 years, or 4 or more within 10 years), the usual handling standard is to send the case to a formal trial instead of ending it with a fine.

  3. Summary fine

    Likely fine
    KRW 3 million or more
  4. Summary fine

    Likely fine
    KRW 2 million or more
  5. Summary fine

    Likely fine
    KRW 1 million or more
  6. Summary fine

    Likely fine
    KRW 500,000 or more

    Because a dangerous object was used, the fine is usually higher than for an ordinary assault.

Notes

  • The fines above follow the standard for ordinary assault; because a dangerous object was used, the actual result may be heavier.
  • Unlike ordinary assault, this crime can be punished even after a settlement. A settlement may still reduce the fine.

Frequently asked questions

Special assault: what is the statutory penalty?
Legal basis: Criminal Act, Article 261. Statutory penalty: Up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 10 million.
Special assault: how is the case usually handled?
Depending on the circumstances, it may be handled as follows: Detention considered, Formal trial (prison sentence requested), Summary fine. Enter your circumstances in the calculator above to see which one applies.

Other crimes in the same category

See the full list of crimes

This is only an estimate based on how investigative agencies usually handle cases. The actual decision and request depend on the facts of the case, such as a settlement, prior convictions and how the crime happened, and on the judgment of the prosecutor in charge; the final sentence is decided by the court. If you are about to be questioned, do not rely on this result alone and talk to a lawyer first.

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