"Body Rubbing and Touching" Pancreatitis Death of Middle School 1 Student, Habitual Sexual Violence by Peers

Deceased Kim Tae-han's Family: "Nothing Changed Before and After Death"
"Reported the Incident, but Separation from Perpetrator Student Was Delayed"

On the 16th, the family of Kim Mo (14), a middle school student who died recently from stress-induced acute pancreatitis after being sexually assaulted by a classmate, posted a petition on the Blue House National Petition Board demanding a thorough investigation. Photo by Blue House National Petition post capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] The family of middle school student Kim Tae-han (14), who died on the 3rd from stress-induced acute pancreatitis after being continuously sexually assaulted by classmates, has called for a thorough investigation.

Kim’s father, Mr. A, appeared on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 28th and said, "There has been no change before or after the death. Despite the need for thorough investigations by each institution, they are avoiding responsibility."

Mr. A detailed the sexual assault his son endured. He said, "According to my son, four classmates engaged in sexual acts daily in the room where he was. Among the four perpetrators, three would straddle him, rub their bodies against him, or forcibly make him masturbate by grabbing his genitals."

He added, "On the 19th of last month, my son told his mother that the friends took off their clothes and had sex, touched breasts, and made moaning sounds?acts beyond what middle school students should be doing. My son knew nothing about sex. He even asked me, 'Dad, what is masturbation?'"

He continued, "When my son resisted and told them to stop, his friends ignored him and continued. They had sex every night in front of him and also bullied him. After the first week of entering the dormitory, my son asked for an eye mask and earplugs because he didn’t want to see or hear it. But one of the perpetrators took the eye mask and didn’t give it back," he added.

Mr. A claimed that the school showed a lukewarm attitude after being informed of the sexual assault. He said, "On the 19th of last month, the school told us they had filed a report and notified the school’s dedicated police officer and the education office. But later we found out that the school only asked the police officer whether the masturbation among middle school students could be considered a sexual violence case."

He added, "Three days later, on the 22nd, when the police officer asked the school to provide the names of the perpetrators and the victim, the school said they couldn’t disclose it due to personal information. The officer couldn’t investigate and left."

He continued, "Regarding the room Tae-han was staying in and the four students, the school said they would separate two of the perpetrators into different rooms, but they didn’t do it for over a week. So, I took Tae-han away," he added.

Regarding Tae-han’s deteriorating health, he said, "On the 26th, the education support office notified us that from Monday the 29th, the perpetrators would be separated. When Tae-han called the school in the afternoon to go, he heard from the dean of students that one of the perpetrators would be released, and that’s when he started feeling worse."

Mr. A said, "His breathing became rapid and his stomach hurt, so we went to the hospital, where his pancreatitis levels rose sharply. Even after three doses of painkillers, there was no effect, so he was transferred to the hospital. He entered the intensive care unit and passed away after three days."

Finally, Mr. A urged, "It seems that each institution only takes action because the media is watching. I hope people will continue to pay attention until this case is resolved."

Meanwhile, as of 1:30 p.m. on the 28th, the petition titled "I suffered from sexual violence at school and inadequate responses from the school and higher authorities, and I have gone to heaven," posted by Kim’s parents on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 16th, has received over 209,000 signatures.