Bizarre 'Seodang School Violence' Perpetrators Who Forced Peers to Drink Urine Sent to Juvenile Division

No Criminal Record as It Is Not a Criminal Punishment
Court: "Rehabilitation More Important Than Harsh Punishment"
Bizarre Abuse Including Inserting Foreign Objects into Body
Repeated Beatings for Refusing Sexual Abuse

Two students who brutally assaulted a peer in a bizarre manner at a Seodang were detained by the court. / Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The so-called 'Seodang school violence' perpetrators, who assaulted peers in bizarre ways such as inserting foreign objects into body parts or forcing them to drink urine, have been detained in court. However, they were transferred to the juvenile court and avoided criminal punishment.

The Criminal Division 1 of Jinju Branch, Changwon District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Seongho) detained A (17) and B (16), who were indicted for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Offenses, on the 8th and transferred the case to the juvenile division of Changwon District Court.

The court stated, "The crimes committed by A and his group are very serious, and the victim C has suffered physical and psychological trauma without any settlement. They are detained for the purpose of victim recovery and reformation."

However, the court emphasized that adults who neglected the delinquency of youths also bear responsibility, and that reformation is more important than severe punishment for the perpetrators.

The court explained, "When dealing with juvenile cases, one might think strict punishment is necessary, but after hearing about their upbringing and family relationships, it is clear that adults failed to provide proper institutional attention and care. This detention and transfer to the juvenile division is not intended to impose harsh punishment but to aid the victim's recovery and reform the perpetrators."

Cheonghak-dong Seodang, Hadong, Gyeongnam / Photo by Yonhap News

When asked by the court if they had anything to say, A and B remained silent.

The two are accused of assaulting C in bizarre ways at a Seodang dormitory in Cheonghak-dong, Hadong, Gyeongnam, starting from February last year.

At that time, victim C was subjected to sexual abuse by the two perpetrators. When C refused, the perpetrators spat on him, pressed his neck with their feet, and dragged him to the bathroom to continue the abuse.

They committed bizarre acts such as inserting foreign objects into C's body parts and forcing him to drink urine, as well as habitual physical abuse including slapping and punching multiple times.

Previously, the prosecution demanded sentences ranging from 5 years to 7 years for A, and 5 years to 6 years for B, citing the cruel nature of their acts against the victim.

Despite C enduring near-torture level abuse, the Seodang reportedly only became aware of these facts belatedly. The Seodang explained the delay by saying, "We cannot know everything that happens among students."

Meanwhile, transfer to the juvenile division means that juveniles under 19 who commit crimes are subject to protective measures by the family court's juvenile division instead of criminal punishment. Since juvenile protective measures are not punishments, no criminal record remains.

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