A South Korean court has sentenced the former head of a disabled care home to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting multiple residents. The case, which involved the Saekdongdaon facility in Incheon City, west of Seoul, has led to a government-wide inspection of similar institutions.
The man, identified only by his surname Kim, was convicted of abusing three residents at the facility. The investigation began in February of the previous year after one of the victims, a woman with a severe intellectual disability, came forward.
National Response and Inspections
The abuse at Saekdongdaon prompted the government to conduct an inspection of 1,507 care facilities for disabled people across the country. During these inspections, 33 cases of suspected abuse were identified.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called the abuse at Saekdongdaon a "grave matter that calls into question the very reason for the state's existence." An assessment commissioned by Ganghwa County indicated that 20 current and former female residents may have experienced sexual abuse.
Questions of Oversight
The incident has raised questions in South Korea about how such abuse could occur, particularly after laws were strengthened in 2011 to enhance protections for people with disabilities against sexual assault. Concerns have also been voiced about how the director's actions went undetected for an extended period.
Ganghwa County has ordered Saekdongdaon to close, and Incheon City officials have revoked the license of the foundation operating the facility. However, the closure has been postponed to allow for the relocation of remaining residents and the establishment of independent living arrangements. The foundation has initiated an administrative lawsuit challenging the revocation of its license.