Calculators & Self-ChecksProsecution Request Estimator

Intimidation (threat): statutory penalty and likely requested sentence

The statutory penalty for Intimidation (threat) and the likely handling of the case depending on your circumstances. The results are for reference only.

Statutory penalty
Up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to KRW 5 million, short-term detention, or a petty fine
Legal basis
Criminal Act, Article 283(1)
Category
Violence

Calculate with your own circumstances

Did the victim say they do not want you punished? (settlement)
How serious was the threat?
Are there circumstances worth considering, such as the victim having provoked it?
Did you try to get money or some advantage through the threat?
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 5 questions and the estimate appears right away. (0/5)

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
    2 months to 1 year 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
    2 months to 1 year in prison

    With several prior violence convictions, or if the threat was used to get money or an advantage, a formal trial is usual.

  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

  7. Suspension of indictment possible

    Intimidation cannot be punished if the victim does not want punishment (an offense not punishable against the victim's wishes), so a settlement ends the case. For a minor threat with mitigating reasons, a suspension of indictment is also possible.

Frequently asked questions

Intimidation (threat): what is the statutory penalty?
Legal basis: Criminal Act, Article 283(1). Statutory penalty: Up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to KRW 5 million, short-term detention, or a petty fine.
Intimidation (threat): 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, Suspension of indictment possible. 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.

Want to look at your own case more closely?

Send us a message about your situation. A lawyer will review it and reply.

Message us

© 2026 JISAN LAW. The question structure, the organisation of the criteria, the result wording and the data on this page are works and a database created by JISAN LAW. Copying, distributing or modifying them, reusing them on other websites or services, or collecting them automatically (scraping) without permission is prohibited. Violations may lead to civil and criminal liability under the Korean Copyright Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act.

Related pages