'Disability Abuse' - Ingangwon Teachers Found Guilty in Court

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Teachers at 'Ingangwon,' a residential facility for people with disabilities in Dobong-gu, Seoul, who abused individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, have been found guilty.

On the 4th, Judge Hong Joo-hyun of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced life guidance teachers Kim (32) and Cho (46), who were charged with violating the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation and ordered 80 hours of community service. Park (39) and Kwak (36) were sentenced to 6 months in prison with a 2-year probation.

Kim is accused of assaulting A (35), a person with level 1 intellectual disability, around January 2018 by climbing on top of A’s body and hitting his face with palms and fists. Park is accused of stepping on B (22), a person with level 1 intellectual disability, with his foot around September to October 2017.

Kwak slapped C (30), a person with level 2 intellectual disability, around January to February 2018 because C touched his glasses. Cho emotionally abused D (26), a person with level 1 intellectual disability, for hyperactive behavior around September to October of the same year and was also investigated for kicking D in the stomach and knocking him down, citing challenging behavior.

They denied the charges during the trial, but the court did not accept their claims, stating that witnesses including E and other facility staff testified consistently and specifically about the incidents and their timing.

The court stated, "The defendants, as life guidance teachers at a residential facility for people with severe disabilities, had the duty to protect and supervise the victims but committed abuse," adding, "The blameworthiness is significant." However, considering their lack or minimal prior criminal records, resignation from their positions, and poor health conditions, probation was sentenced.

This case came to light through an internal whistleblower, E, who worked at Ingangwon. The Seoul Disability Rights Center (now the Disability Rights Advocacy Agency) received reports of abuse occurring within Ingangwon in August 2018, launched an investigation, and filed a complaint against those involved with the Dobong Police Station in November of the same year.

Ingangwon was also known as the "Second Dogani Incident" after it was revealed in 2014 that the former director and teachers embezzled billions of won in facility operating funds and committed harsh acts against people with severe disabilities.

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