"Angered by Abusive Language"... Psychiatric Hospital Staff Assaults Patient, Police Launch Investigation

Kicked and Pressed Neck During Restraint
Four Staff Members Accused of Child Abuse

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An incident occurred at a psychiatric hospital in Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong Province, where a teenage patient was assaulted, prompting a police investigation.

According to police and other sources on May 18, at approximately 9:34 a.m. on May 9, a staff member in their 60s, identified as A, repeatedly assaulted a 17-year-old patient, referred to as B, during a restraint procedure inside a single isolation room at a psychiatric hospital in Boeun.

It was found that A, along with three other staff members, restrained B, who resisted, by kicking her and pressing down on her neck.

The parents, who learned of the incident during a visit that day, filed a complaint against A and the three other staff members, accusing them of child abuse.

Subsequently, the hospital is also reported to have filed a charge against A for violating the Mental Health Welfare Act (patient assault).

A, who was accused of assault, is reported to have resigned on the same day.

The hospital stated, "A said he assaulted B out of anger after B used abusive language toward him. After recognizing the incident, we immediately filed a complaint against A for patient assault under the Mental Health Welfare Act and are cooperating with the police investigation."

The police have secured CCTV footage from the hospital and are investigating the circumstances at the time and whether there were any additional offenses.

Earlier, in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, former and current care workers at a psychiatric hospital were indicted on suspicion of excessive restraint and assault against a teenage female patient. In 2024, they were accused of covering the patient's face with a blanket or punching her, among other abusive acts. This incident came to light after patients who were hospitalized at the time filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.

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