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South Korean care home director sentenced to 15 years for sexually abusing disabled residents

Victims were made to call him 'Dad' as abuse continued for nearly a decade in state-run facility

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
A court in Seoul sentenced a former director of a state-run care home for intellectually disabled people to 15 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting three residents, in a case that has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of disability care in South Korea.

The director, identified only by his surname Kim, was convicted of sexually abusing residents at Saekdongwon, a facility in Incheon that is fully subsidised by the state and still houses 33 residents. The court heard that some victims were forced to call Kim "Dad," which prosecutors argued illustrated the unequal relationship of power. Kim is appealing the conviction.

One of the victims, Seo Mi-hyeon, who is in her 40s and has an intellectual disability, first disclosed the abuse to her mother nearly two years ago. She said the abuse began shortly after she moved into the home in 2016 and continued for almost a decade, with Kim visiting her at night or in the early morning to rape her.

According to Seo's lawyer, Ko Eun-young, there was no adult at the facility she could speak to about the abuse, and she felt other staff members would not help her. The care home has not responded to that allegation. Seo eventually came forward in February 2025 after suffering a head injury, which she said occurred when Kim tried to assault her and she blocked him.

The case has raised serious questions about the safety of disabled people in state care. Authorities have asked Saekdongwon to close down in light of the abuse.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The case exposes vulnerabilities in South Korea's institutional care system for people with disabilities, where abuse can go undetected for years.
  • It highlights barriers to reporting: victims with communication difficulties may lack trusted adults or mechanisms to speak out.
  • The appeal and potential closure of the facility will test whether the justice system and regulators can prevent future abuses.

Background

Saekdongwon is a state-run residential facility for intellectually disabled adults in Incheon, fully subsidised by the government. It houses 33 residents. The director Kim was in a position of total authority over vulnerable residents. The case came to light after one victim, Seo Mi-hyeon, disclosed abuse to her mother following a head injury in early 2025. The court sentenced Kim to 15 years in prison earlier this month; he is appealing. The home has been asked to shut down.

Key Perspectives

Victims and their families: They have expressed relief that the abuse is finally acknowledged but also anger that it persisted for nearly a decade. Seo told police, "I was hurting inside, so I came to tell my story." The director: Kim is appealing the conviction, maintaining his innocence through legal proceedings. Critics and disability advocates: They question how a director could abuse residents for years without detection and demand reforms to oversight, staff vetting, and reporting channels in state care homes.

What to Watch

  • The outcome of Kim's appeal, which could lengthen or reduce the sentence.
  • Whether the closure of Saekdongwon proceeds and how residents are relocated.
  • Any legislative or regulatory changes South Korea may introduce to improve monitoring of disability care facilities.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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