"Child Damaged Side Mirror" Car Owner Demanded 4 Million Won Repair Fee, Sent to Prosecution

"Repair cost 4 million won... Only asking for 650,000 won in cash"
Netizens uncover original malfunction
Suspected attempted fraud and violation of Child Welfare Act

An elementary school student touched a car's side mirror and broke it, and the car owner who demanded a large sum of money from the child's parents was sent to the prosecution.

A vehicle whose owner demanded 4 million KRW for repair costs, claiming that an elementary school child touched and damaged the side mirror [Image source=Captured from BobaeDream]

According to a Yonhap News report on the 23rd, the Michuhol Police Station in Incheon announced that they had sent a man in his 30s, Mr. A, to the prosecution on charges of attempted fraud and violation of the Child Welfare Act. Mr. A is accused of attempting to extort 650,000 KRW in cash from the parents of an 11-year-old boy, Mr. B, by falsely claiming that Mr. B had damaged his car's side mirror in front of a villa in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on the afternoon of March 29. The police also judged that Mr. A emotionally abused Mr. B by intimidating him during this process. At the time, Mr. B had touched the side mirror while passing by Mr. A’s car, but the side mirror was already broken.

A vehicle whose owner demanded 4 million KRW in repair costs, claiming an elementary school child damaged the side mirror [Image source=Captured from BobaeDream]

This case became public after Mr. B’s mother, Ms. C, asked for help on an online community. On March 29, Ms. C posted, "My child touched the side mirror while waiting for the academy bus," and "When I received a call and went down, my child was crying, and Mr. A said the repair and painting costs would exceed 1 million KRW, and rental costs would be over 3 million KRW." It was reported that Mr. A demanded 650,000 KRW in cash from Ms. C, saying, "The repair will cost about 4 million KRW, so just give me 650,000 KRW in cash."

In response, a netizen found a photo of Mr. A’s car from July 2022 on a portal road view with a keen eye. The photo showed that the left side mirror of Mr. A’s car was not folded, while the right side was folded, raising suspicion that the side mirror was not damaged by Mr. B but had been broken beforehand. As this fact spread widely, Mr. A eventually admitted that the side mirror was originally broken and apologized, saying he would not charge for the repair.

Investigation result notification posted by Mr. C on an online community [Image source=Captured from Bobae Dream]

On the 21st, Ms. C posted again on the online community. She revealed, "I filed a complaint against the car owner with the police on April 4, and today I received the second notification from the police." The second notification attached in the photo stated that the suspect was sent to the prosecution on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act.

Ms. C wrote, "It is right for parents to take responsibility for their child's mistakes, but due to the wrongful behavior of trying to gain personal profit or money, a child and a family could be ruined," and added, "I am posting this hoping that such incidents will not happen again." She also shared an update, saying, "The child has undergone psychological testing for depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and is currently receiving psychological counseling and medication with support from the education office," expressing, "My child and our family are still going through a lot of hardship."

Ms. C also said, "I vividly remember the car owner’s actions, words, expressions, and appearance, who, despite knowing our family situation, mentioned the family and smiled as if showing mercy," and added, "I sincerely hope he is punished according to the law."

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