Teacher Forced Disabled Student to Eat 'Gochunangi', Guilty Verdict Confirmed

Accused of Feeding Wasabi and Gochujang to Victimized Students in May and September 2018

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A special school teacher who repeatedly abused a student with intellectual disabilities by forcibly feeding wasabi and red pepper paste because the student did not obey has been confirmed guilty.

The Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice No Taeak) announced on the 17th that it upheld the original ruling sentencing former special school teacher Cha Mo (57), who worked at Seoul Ingang School, to six months in prison with a two-year probation and ordering him to attend 40 hours of child abuse prevention lectures.

Cha was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes for forcibly feeding about half a spoonful of wasabi and red pepper paste to a student with intellectual disabilities in May and September 2018 while working at Ingang School.

It was investigated that he committed these acts because the student refused to eat wasabi or red pepper paste and pinched another student's body during the refusal process.

The first trial court acquitted Cha, stating it was difficult to recognize the charges. However, the second trial court found the testimonies of social service workers at Ingang School who witnessed Cha's actions credible and sentenced him guilty.

The Supreme Court confirmed the ruling, stating, "There is no error in the application of the law by the lower court."

Baek Mo (23), a former social service worker at Ingang School who was also tried for abusing disabled students, was confirmed to have received a sentence of one year in prison with two years probation and ordered to attend 40 hours of child abuse prevention lectures.

Baek was investigated for locking a disabled student in a cabinet with another social service worker in June 2018 because the student kept wandering around and throwing objects while Baek was a social service worker.

From April to August of the same year, Baek was also accused of repeatedly making another disabled student sit down and stand up or threatening to hit the student because the student was shouting.

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