"Burned with a Cigarette Lighter, Poured Boiling Water" - A Reversed Sports Violence Case in China

Scars on the body of a school violence victim. Photo by Observer Network, China

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Amid ongoing school violence controversies in the domestic sports and entertainment sectors, it has been reported that issues of violence between senior and junior student athletes have also emerged in China.

According to Chinese media such as Guancha.cn on the 16th, it was revealed belatedly that in September last year, five gymnasts around 10 years old at the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau Gymnastics, Weightlifting, and Judo Athlete Management Center suffered violence for 4 to 5 days from two 15-year-old senior athletes.

The perpetrators regularly inflicted violence on the victims, and the severity increased during the period when the coach was away with other athletes for a competition. According to the victims' statements, the perpetrators not only beat them but also poured boiling water on them, burned their bodies with lighters and cigarette butts, and poured eggs or detergent into their nostrils.

The athlete management center operates as a closed facility, allowing parents to visit only once a month. Parents only became aware of the situation after checking their children's condition and asking for details during their visit.

Medical examinations showed that the victims had burns and lacerations on various parts of their bodies, including the face, neck, chest, back, and buttocks. They also had bruises and scars from cigarette burns, and it was reported that one victim was hospitalized for a week due to hearing damage.

After the victims' parents raised the issue, one perpetrator's parent agreed to pay a total of 450,000 yuan (approximately 78.3 million KRW) for medical expenses. However, another perpetrator's parent showed complete indifference, leading the victims' side to report the matter to the police, but there was no contact. It was also revealed that the perpetrator's parent who had agreed to compensation actually paid only 65,000 yuan (approximately 11.31 million KRW).

Meanwhile, under Chinese law, criminal responsibility can only be imposed on those aged 14 to 16 if intentional injury results in serious injury or death. In this case, since a certain amount of time had passed after the violence, the final diagnosis was reported as minor injuries. The victims' parents criticized the center for failing to fulfill its management responsibilities and delaying compensation.

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