Taekwondo instructor jailed for 30 years for death of 5-year-old
On Thursday, the Uijeongbu District Court handed down the sentence to the instructor, a man in his 30s, who was convicted of child abuse resulting in death. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs and barred him from working at children or youth-related institutions for 10 years.
According to the verdict, the instructor placed the child upside down in rolled-up floor mats and left him in that position for 27 minutes, at his martial arts school in Yangju, Gyeonggi.
'The defendant was aware of the risk that the child might die but failed to act,' the court said. 'He also habitually abused more than 20 other children over a sustained period and dismissed his actions as mere play, casting doubt on the sincerity of his remorse.'
In addition to denying responsibility, the defendant reportedly attempted to shift blame to another instructor and deleted CCTV footage to destroy evidence. The court deemed his behavior as not only abusive but also indicative of a serious attempt at concealment and obstruction of justice.
While prosecutors had sought a life sentence, the court opted for a fixed 30-year term.
Investigations revealed that the defendant had committed 124 instances of physical and emotional abuse against 26 children at the taekwondo school, including pinching cheeks and striking students.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Workplace bullying cases of migrant workers tripled since 2020, many more likely uncounted
Reports of workplace harassment cases involving migrant workers in South Korea have more than tripled between 2020 and 2024, government data shows. But advocates warn these official figures may be only the tip of the iceberg. According to Labor Ministry data released by Rep. Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, reported cases of workplace bullying and harassment targeting foreign national workers rose from 65 in 2020 to 225 in 2024, marking a 3.5-fold increase. By May of this year, 112 new complaints have already been filed, suggesting 2025 will likely see the highest number yet. The bullying of migrant workers drew renewed attention last month: a video emerged of a Sri Lankan worker at a brick factory in Naju being tied to a stack of bricks with plastic wrap and lifted by a forklift. Authorities determined the act constituted workplace harassment and fined the employer 3 million won ($2,200). President Lee Jae Myung condemned the incident as 'unacceptable violence' and pledged strong action. South Korean police are currently conducting a nationwide, 100-day special crackdown on workplace abuse and violence against foreign national workers. Migrant workers and their advocates argue that the true extent of workplace harassment is largely missing from official statistics, as such complaints are often handled internally by employers. Many foreign national workers are employed by small businesses with fewer than five employees, where reporting abuse by coworkers or supervisors is often difficult. Even when victims file complaints, many cases end without penalties due to gaps in the legal framework. South Korea's Workplace Anti-Bullying Act, introduced in 2019, defines harassment as abuse of authority that causes physical or psychological harm or worsens the work environment. Employers must investigate complaints, protect victims and take corrective measures. If they carry out these duties, cases can be officially recorded as 'no violation,' rendering the case as resolved. The law also does not cover workplaces with fewer than five employees or workers in special employment arrangements. Migrants are heavily concentrated in these sectors, leaving many outside the law's reach. The Labor Ministry recorded over 820 harassment complaints involving migrant workers between 2020 and May 2025. Of these, only a few dozen led to corrective orders, just over ten to fines, and slightly more to criminal referrals. Roughly 400 cases were withdrawn or closed with "no violation" findings, while several hundred were placed in 'other' categories, typically covering workplaces too small to fall under the law or jobs outside standard protections. Lawmakers have warned that the system underreports the true extent of harassment, which is often resolved internally or never reported at all. Jung Young-seop from the civil society coalition Migrant Workers Solidarity for Equality told the Korea Herald, 'About 70 percent of migrant workers in South Korea are employed at workplaces with fewer than 30 people, many of them under five. When they ask to transfer after being abused, some employers retaliate by refusing to assign them work. That means no wages and often worse treatment.' Amid a renewed push to better protect migrant workers, the Korean government is now pledging reforms. It plans to revise the E-9 employment visa system to give migrant workers more freedom to change jobs and extend their stays in three-year terms. Many working visas require employees to remain at their approved job unless authorized to relocate or change employers. Until now, workers were only allowed to transfer under limited conditions, such as unpaid wages or physical abuse.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Man neglects hundreds of reptiles to starve, fined for animal cruelty
A South Korean man was sentenced to a 4 million won ($2,900) fine for animal cruelty, after he left his 232 lizards and 19 snakes to starve for two months, a local court said Monday. The Cheongju District Court found the defendant guilty of violating the Animal Protection Act, ruling that his negligence directly caused the starvation deaths of a total of 80 lizards and 15 snakes. The 22-year-old left his home in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to work in another region in September of last year, without taking any measures to ensure the survival of his pet reptiles. The case was brought to light when the landlord of the building on Nov. 11 reported to police that the tenant had been out of reach for two months. Police found the animals inside the home, which was also fitted with devices to automatically control the humidity and temperature inside. Of the 232 lizards and 19 snakes he had, 80 lizards and 15 snakes died. The defendant relinquished the ownership of the surviving animals. The court said it took into consideration the fact that the defendant does not have any prior criminal records and has been remorseful of his actions.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Police launch 100-day nationwide crackdown on migrant worker abuse
South Korean police will launch a 100-day special crackdown on abuses against migrant workers, the Korean National Police Agency said Monday. Each of the nation's 18 regional police agencies has formed a special unit that will operate through Nov. 25 to investigate cases of violence, assault, confinement, coercion, humiliation, sexual abuse and labor exploitation targeting foreign workers. The initiative follows nationwide outrage over a video showing a Sri Lankan worker being strapped to a forklift and lifted off the ground. The incident occurred in February at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province, where the Sri Lankan, who had been working there for just three months, was allegedly harassed by a Korean forklift driver in his 50s after making mistakes on the job. The police units will identify cases by analyzing 112 emergency calls and gathering information from foreign worker support centers run by NGOs and multicultural organizations, and will launch investigations when necessary. The authorities will also establish a hotline with the Ministry of Employment and Labor to conduct joint on-site inspections, and plan to promptly notify the ministry of cases that fall under its jurisdiction, such as unpaid wages. On Sunday, Savitri Panabokke, Sri Lanka's ambassador to South Korea, visited Naju, where she called for stronger protection of migrant workers' rights and measures to prevent human rights abuses. "Although it is regrettable that such an incident occurred, the city has shown strong support and concern. The embassy will also seek to prevent a recurrence through labor education programs for our nationals," she said.
