Two young men were recently sentenced for creating doorbell pranks and door-blocking videos, in which they rang doorbells and triggered fire alarms in apartment complexes during the early hours of the morning. One of the men received a prison sentence, while the other was granted a suspended sentence.
The pair allegedly intended to profit from the viral videos, which stirred fear and anxiety among residents.
On July 9, the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced a 29-year-old man and a 21-year-old man to 6 months and 4 months in prison, respectively, for violating laws against violent acts, specifically trespassing in residential areas.
However, the court decided to suspend the 29-year-old’s prison sentence for a period of two years.
Late-Night Pranks Stir Panic Among Residents
The men reportedly took up a suggestion from a Telegram group chat, where a member offered to sponsor content in exchange for videos involving doorbell pranks and blocking homeowners from answering their doors.
On September 17 of the previous year, at approximately 1:08 AM, they disguised themselves as security guards and broke into an apartment building in Seoul’s Jungnang District.
They rang the doorbell of a victim’s apartment three times, shouting, “Security here! There might be a fire!” while pounding on the front door. The two men went further, yanking on doorknobs and even activating fire alarms.
Around 1:22 AM the same morning, the two men infiltrated another apartment building in the same district. This time, they triggered fire alarms across five floors and filmed a video blocking the door, preventing residents from leaving their homes.
The court explained that the two men “invaded the apartments in the middle of the night solely for their entertainment and financial gain, severely disturbing the residents’ peace and security.”
In its statement, the court also added, “Although the 29-year-old defendant deposited money as compensation for the victims, this does not justify leniency in sentencing, as the victims include the entire apartment community.”
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