Legal Outcome of the "Jamsil Rain Man" Incident, Which Involved Unauthorized Entry onto the Field to Retrieve an Umbrella

A man, who gained the nickname "Jamsil Rain Man" after trespassing onto the field during a professional baseball game, has been sentenced to a fine.

According to the legal community on the 9th, Judge Kwak Yoon-kyung of the 12th Criminal Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Mr. A to a fine of 200,000 won for violating the Minor Offenses Act (obstructing work).

This incident occurred around 8:24 PM on July 19, 2024, during a game between the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and it became a hot topic among baseball fans.

During the bottom of the 5th inning, Mr. A crossed over the outfield fence to retrieve his umbrella, causing the game to be suspended for about three minutes.

At that time, Mr. A, dressed in a suit and holding his umbrella open, was seen walking across the field, and this was broadcast live nationwide.

Eventually, Mr. A was stopped by the right field ball boy and the first base side ball boy and was restrained by safety personnel. He became a trending figure online, receiving nicknames like "Jamsil Mary Poppins" and "Jamsil Rain Man."

Legal Punishment and Social Reactions to Unauthorized Entry at a Baseball Stadium

Initially, a summary trial led to a fine of 200,000 won, but Mr. A requested a formal trial, in which the same ruling was made.

Neither Mr. A nor the prosecution appealed the verdict, so the ruling was confirmed.

Following the verdict, online reactions included jokes like “200,000 won for a life shot” and “I thought I’d be banned for life, but this is a good deal,” as well as concerns such as “people might start copying this if it’s only 200,000 won” and “the punishment for trespassing at the stadium is too lenient.”

Meanwhile, under the current Minor Offenses Act, actions that obstruct others’ work as a prank in public places can be fined up to 200,000 won.

Image source: News1