The rise of unmanned, automated businesses offers convenience but also makes them easy targets for troublemaking teens. Recently, a shocking incident unfolded in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, where two high school girls brazenly sprayed fire extinguisher foam inside a PC bang and fled the scene. Even worse, when the owner tried to hold them accountable, the vandals showed no remorse and instead taunted him.
This story was featured on JTBC’s news program “Sự cố Banjang” on June 5, 2026, sparking outrage over management gaps and the reckless behavior of minors protected by juvenile laws.
From Skirting Rules to Threatening Staff
According to Mr. A, owner of the Gunsan PC bang, his shop switches to remote management during slow hours. Taking advantage of this, two girls who appeared to be high school students started frequenting the place.
Their disruptive behavior lasted for days. They only came when no staff were present, sneaking in after hours. Instead of using the computers, they gathered in the smoking room, puffing away or lounging on sofas for 4 to 5 hours. They even bypassed automated entry controls during the curfew for minors after 10 PM. When a staff member once confronted them, they responded with street-style threats: “I’ll call all the big guys in this neighborhood to deal with you.”
The Breaking Point: Fire Extinguisher Foam Pranks and Chaotic Escape
Their recklessness peaked when they vandalized the PC bang by spraying fire extinguisher foam on each other. Treating it like a joke, they took selfies and laughed while casually wiping off the foam.
At the time, about 10 customers were gaming inside. The foam quickly filled the enclosed space, causing chaos and breathing difficulties. While customers called the police in panic, the girls slipped out and escaped.
The Audacity of Juvenile Offenders
Police quickly identified the vandals, who turned out to be second-year middle school students under 14 years old. Under current law, they are considered juveniles and immune from criminal charges.
Feeling protected by this “get out of jail free card,” the girls showed extreme disrespect. For four days after the incident, they never apologized. When Mr. A tried to contact one of them for an explanation, he was met with ridiculous questions:
“Why are you only contacting me? How do you have my number?”
“What law lets you get my contact info without permission? Are you threatening me?”
“Don’t lecture me like that. You’re not my parent!”
The roles of victim and offender were shockingly reversed, leaving Mr. A and observers stunned. The vandals used privacy laws and juvenile protections to challenge the victim.
Tens of Millions in Damage and the Owner’s Helplessness
For Mr. A, this vandalism was a severe financial blow. Fire extinguisher powder is highly corrosive to electronics. Over 10 expensive gaming rigs were completely damaged by the residue. He shared, “Computer parts, especially graphics cards, have become very expensive recently. Repairing or replacing everything will cost tens of millions of won (hundreds of millions of VND).”
What hurts most is that civil compensation seems impossible. Since the offenders are exempt from criminal liability, police can’t intervene deeply. Mr. A tried to contact their parents for compensation, but the girls cut off all communication and refused to share their parents’ numbers.
This Gunsan PC bang case has sparked fierce debate in South Korea about lowering the age of criminal responsibility. Juvenile protection laws aim to give troubled kids a chance to reform. But nowadays, some teens exploit these laws to commit crimes without consequences, testing moral and legal boundaries.
If parents are irresponsible and the law is lenient, victims like Mr. A end up bearing huge unexpected debts. Viewers of the news program flooded comments demanding authorities track down the girls’ parents and force full compensation to restore justice.
Source: news.naver
