A 20-year-old engineering student from Portland, Oregon, remains stuck in South Korea months after an arrest during a mental health crisis, according to local reporting by KOIN. Although a South Korean court acquitted him after determining he lacked criminal responsibility, prosecutors appealed the decision and imposed an exit restriction that prevents him from returning to the United States.
Portland Student Detained and Acquitted Abroad
The student, who attends the Oregon Institute of Technology, had traveled to South Korea to study at Jeonbuk National University, according to his family’s statements to KOIN. His family clarified that the program was not part of an official Oregon Tech exchange. On June 22, the student experienced a blackout connected to autism and a history of epileptic seizures, according to his mother, Iris Cox. Security camera footage cited in court documents showed him inside a dentist’s office opening packages, taking small items, and bending a pair of glasses, resulting in approximately $170 in property damage.
Following the incident, he was arrested on allegations of theft and trespassing. He spent roughly 40 days in jail, much of that time in solitary confinement, which his mother said caused his psychological condition to deteriorate. A South Korean court eventually acquitted him, ruling that he lacked criminal responsibility for the events. Prosecutors subsequently appealed that acquittal, leaving the legal case unresolved.
Exit Ban and Legal Hurdles Keep Family Abroad
Despite the acquittal, an exit ban tied to the ongoing prosecutor’s appeal prevents the student from leaving South Korea. The family posted bail, and the student’s father, Ben Cox, is currently staying with him in South Korea to manage the ongoing legal proceedings and daily expenses. Iris Cox told KOIN that bail and attorney fees are mounting, creating a significant financial burden that the family cannot sustain indefinitely.
Did you know?
Under South Korean legal procedures, prosecutors can request departure prohibitions through the Ministry of Justice during active criminal proceedings, effectively barring foreign nationals from leaving the country even after an initial acquittal at the trial level.
US Embassy Limits and Diplomatic Response
Seeking assistance for her son’s return, Iris Cox contacted the office of Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. Embassy in Seoul. The embassy responded that it could not intervene in South Korea’s internal judicial decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Oregon student unable to leave South Korea?
He is barred from leaving because prosecutors appealed his trial court acquittal, triggering an exit restriction connected to the ongoing legal proceedings.
What triggered the student’s arrest in South Korea?
He was arrested for theft and trespassing after a mental health episode on June 22 at a dentist’s office, where he caused about $170 in property damage, according to his family and court records cited by KOIN.
Can the U.S. government intervene in this case?
Embassy in Seoul informed Senator Ron Wyden’s office that it cannot intervene in South Korea’s internal judicial decisions.
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