Prosecution Indicts and Detains Saekdongwon Director on Charges of Sexual Assault Against Residents with Disabilities

Charges of Violating Sexual Crimes Act and Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act
Prosecution: "Additional Offenses Uncovered Through Supplementary Investigation"

The director of Saekdongwon, a residential care facility for people with severe disabilities in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, who is accused of sexually assaulting residents with disabilities, was indicted and will stand trial in detention on March 19.

Facility director Kim, who completed the detention hearing at Saekdongwon. Yonhap News

On March 19, the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Chief Prosecutor Jeong Heeseon) announced that Kim, the former director of Saekdongwon, had been indicted and detained on charges including violations of the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act.

Kim was detained and referred to the prosecution on February 27 on charges of coercing female residents with disabilities into sexual intercourse or similar sexual acts under the pretext of providing guidance and supervision.

According to the prosecution, from 2012 until last year, Kim raped three female residents with disabilities at Saekdongwon. It was also found that Kim abused another resident by striking her palm 34 times with a drumstick.

After the case was referred, the prosecution uncovered additional rape offenses committed by Kim through supplementary investigations, including witness interviews and further meetings with the victims. The prosecution also plans to continue supporting the victims with psychiatric care, language and art therapy, as well as providing financial support such as housing relocation expenses, emergency living allowances, and caregiving costs.

A prosecution official stated, "Prior to the referral of the case, the prosecution formed a 'Saekdongwon Investigation Team' to analyze victims' statements in cooperation with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and secured additional medical records of the victims, thereby establishing the necessity for detention. We will continue to thoroughly investigate crimes against socially vulnerable groups in close cooperation with relevant agencies and respond strictly."

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