"‘Appa-neun Byeok Bogo Seo Isseo’ Childcare Teacher Abuse and Child's Abnormal Behavior"

National Petition Regarding Child Abuse Incident at a Daycare Center in Yeongju. Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] A national petition demanding severe punishment for the perpetrator teacher and the director has been posted regarding the child abuse incident that occurred last month at a daycare center in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk.

According to the Blue House national petition board on the 30th, a petition titled "We urge severe punishment for the main perpetrator teacher and the director of a daycare center in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk" posted on the 28th has gained over 6,000 supporters as of 8 a.m. that day.

The petitioner, who identified themselves as the parent of a victim child, claimed, "Most of the 11 children in the class suffered physical abuse, and all the children who witnessed it were exposed to emotional abuse."

The petitioner described the condition of the children who showed abnormal behavior and aftereffects from the abuse. According to the statement, one child said, while mixing all food in one place, "The teacher told me to do this," or hit their own head saying, "The teacher hit me." The child also gave specific statements such as "The teacher pushes friends hard to knock them down if they are bad at studying."

One parent requested to view the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the director last month, but the director postponed it by a day, saying "mental preparation is needed." After reviewing the footage, the parent reported capturing signs of abuse over approximately 60 days.

The footage reportedly showed the perpetrator teacher engaging in acts such as △ pulling out chairs where children were sitting or hitting their buttocks to knock them down △ hitting a child's head three times with a fist △ mixing side dishes of children who ate late during mealtime and forcing them to eat △ forcibly tilting a child's head back and pouring milk down their throat.

It was also reported that one child once told their father, who was preparing to go to work, "Dad, stand facing the wall," and returned home with bruises near the eyes.

The petitioner expressed outrage, saying, "The daycare director said there were a total of four confirmed abuse cases over 60 days, but in reality, signs of abuse were found every day during the approximately 30 days the child attended. In the end, the child was beaten almost every day except weekends, holidays, and event days."

They continued, "When parents said they would report the abuse, the perpetrator teacher defended themselves by saying things like 'I am sensitive because I am taking medicine,' 'It is because it is a month with many events,' and 'I am under a lot of stress due to conflicts with other teachers.' The director, who should manage and be responsible for the daycare center, only says 'I didn’t know,'" they appealed.

They emphasized, "We urge strict punishment for the perpetrator teacher and the director of the daycare center," and added, "Qualifications for childcare teachers should be strictly verified when obtaining certificates and hiring, and official personality tests should also be conducted."

Meanwhile, the childcare teacher in their 40s who abused the children was booked without detention on the 22nd on charges including violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes. The director of the daycare center is under additional investigation.

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