COVID-19 'False Statement' Incheon Hagwon Instructor Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison...Prosecution Says "Very Bad Crime Nature"

The tutoring academy in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, where A (24), a tutoring instructor diagnosed with COVID-19, worked. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The prosecution has demanded a prison sentence for an Incheon academy instructor who was prosecuted for lying about his occupation and movements during an epidemiological investigation after contracting the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

At the sentencing hearing held on the 15th under the presiding of Judge Kim Yonghwan of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 7, the prosecution requested a two-year prison term for the academy instructor A (24), who was indicted on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

The prosecution stated, "The defendant visited a gym on the day of the epidemiological investigation and later went to a coffee shop," adding, "Due to the defendant's negligence, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 80, causing significant damage and the nature of the crime is very serious."

A admitted all charges during the trial that day.

In his final statement, he said, "I committed a grave mistake. I apologize to the students, parents, and quarantine authorities who were affected," and added, "(I lied during the epidemiological investigation) because I was afraid and scared that personal matters such as my private life would be revealed."

He continued, "A few months ago, after seeing comments telling me to 'die,' I decided to take an extreme measure but gave up due to my parents' persuasion," and appealed, "I will live with a heart of apology and atonement for the rest of my life."

A's defense attorney also said, "The defendant worked as an academy instructor to pay for tuition and living expenses while living alone, and has been receiving treatment for depression and panic disorder," and requested, "Considering that he is going through difficult days by self-harming daily in prison, please show leniency to the maximum extent allowed by law."

After being diagnosed with COVID-19, A concealed his occupation as an academy instructor during the initial epidemiological investigation and lied that he was "unemployed," deliberately withholding some of his movement routes, which led to a complaint filed by the Incheon city government.

He visited clubs in Itaewon, Seoul, on May 2-3 this year and contracted COVID-19. Because he lied about his occupation and movements, contacts were not quarantined or tested in advance, causing a surge in community infections.

The infection spread from the academy where A worked and an Incheon coin karaoke room visited by his student to a first birthday buffet restaurant in Bucheon, and confirmed cases continued to occur daily across the metropolitan area.

More than 40 confirmed cases related to A were reported among elementary, middle, and high school students in Incheon alone, and over 80 nationwide. The transmission originating from A even resulted in a '7th generation infection' case.

The sentencing hearing for A is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on the 8th of next month at the Incheon District Court.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.