SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean man was in critical condition after setting himself on fire Wednesday in a courtroom where he was sentenced to a $300 fine for disturbing the peace, a court official and an emergency room physician said. (Guess he decided he didn't want to pay the fine.)

The district court in Uijongbu north of Seoul had just upheld a fine he received in 2004 for causing a disturbance at a mobile phone sales outlet where he was demanding a new phone number. (Still didn't get that new phone number!)

The man walked out of the courtroom after the sentence, doused himself with heating oil, came back to the courtroom and set himself on fire, the court official said by telephone. (hmmmm, maybe this will get me the new phone number!)

The man suffered third-degree burns all over his body and was being transported to a burn center in Seoul, an emergency room doctor at a Uijongbu hospital that first received him said.

"His life is on the line," the doctor said.

Nobody else in the sparsely attended courtroom was hurt, the court official said.

Well, if he lives, I don't think anyone would want to have sex with him due to all the scars!

Submitted on 01/04/2006

Submitted by: Michael
Reference: yahoo odd news 1-04-06

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Other
While I like the write-up and the general scenario (really, WHO would want to burn themselves over what amounts to a mindemeanor?), I'm really not quite sure of this. I detect mental instability here, so I can't vote HM (that and bystanders may have been at risk as well) yet I don't want to zap this one either. I will vote neutral and pass it on to my fellow mods...

Greg said:
Maybe Toss: Other
The guy sounds like an A1 loony toon to me ... hmmmmmmm ... I'm not sure either, but going "Maybe Toss".

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
After consideration, I'm reluctantly going to vote for an HM (with a possible upgrade to a DA after confirmation of his death). In the Orient, suicide (attempted or successful) doesn't carry the implication of mental illness that it does in the West.

Jorge said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
He made it to disturbing the peace again, but not quite into a DA

Charles said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Given Jack's comments, with which I have to concur, I would normally mark this one neutral... but given the fact that he or his heirs would have to pay the fine anyway, I'm afraid I see the response to what is, after all, a fairly minor dishonour as being disproportionate, sufficiently so to rate an "insanity" downcheck.

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