Confirmed Fine for Nursery Director Accused of 'Emotional Abuse of 5-Year-Old for No Response'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The director of a childcare center, who was prosecuted for emotionally abusing a 5-year-old child by making her stand barefoot outside the building for not responding well, has had a fine confirmed by the Supreme Court.

On the 26th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Min Yusook) announced that it upheld the original rulings sentencing former childcare center director A to a fine of 3 million won for violating the Child Abuse Punishment Act, and former social worker B to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation for violating the Child Abuse Punishment Act and retaliatory threats under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Previously, in September 2019, A was prosecuted for making C (5), a child at a childcare facility in Daegu, stand barefoot outside the building because she did not respond despite being called multiple times. It was investigated that A grabbed the waistband of B’s dobok (martial arts uniform) and lifted her while walking about 10 meters outside the building in front of several witnesses.

B was jointly prosecuted for verbally abusing D (14), a child who did not greet a friend moving to another childcare center in July 2019, saying, "You f***ing s***, live your life as you want," and for threatening E (17), who gave unfavorable testimony against B to investigative authorities in November of the same year, by saying, "I have been killing people for 7 years," and "Since you ruined my life, I will ruin yours too."

The first and second trials sentenced A to a fine of 3 million won and B to 8 months imprisonment with 2 years probation. The appellate court stated, "The defendants committed emotional abuse against children under their care," and "Considering the defendants’ positions, their relationships with the victims, and the psychological and mental shock to the victims, their responsibility cannot be considered light." The court also criticized, "The defendants have denied the crimes and consistently made excuses up to the appellate trial."

The Supreme Court also agreed with this judgment. The court ruled, "The lower courts did not err in their understanding of the law regarding emotional abuse of children and justifiable acts," and dismissed all appeals.

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