"Taekwondo Prospect Son in Psychiatric Hospital... Senior Who Sexually Assaulted Him for 7 Years Is at University"

A post on the Blue House National Petition Board urging strict punishment, claiming that a Taekwondo prospect who dreamed of becoming a national representative was sexually assaulted by a senior of the same gender for seven years starting from the 4th grade of elementary school. / Photo by Blue House website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] A promising Taekwondo athlete who dreamed of becoming a national representative has sparked public outrage after it was revealed through a Blue House national petition that he was sexually assaulted by an older male senior for seven years starting from the 4th grade of elementary school. The victim's father has called for severe punishment for the perpetrator.

The victim's father, Mr. A, said in an interview on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" aired on the 13th, "Because of this incident, my son gave up his dream of becoming a Taekwondo national representative and is currently hospitalized in a psychiatric closed ward due to severe panic disorder and depression," adding, "The perpetrator is a senior two years older than my son."

Mr. A explained, "(The perpetrator) said 'I’m hooked' and dragged him, telling him to take off his pants and sexually assaulted him. It was not just once but about 40 times over seven years," adding, "The gym is five stories high, and there was a wedding hall buffet on the 4th floor where he was taken to a somewhat secluded restroom and sexually assaulted. When the child resisted, he was subjected to corporal punishment such as 'Wonsan bombing' (hitting the head on the floor while hands are tied behind the back) and kicked."

Mr. A continued, "He even said that when they went to national competitions in other provinces, the assaults happened in rooms where the director and the three of them stayed together in motels or pensions."

Regarding why his son did not report the abuse, Mr. A said, "He said, 'The senior was scarier than my dad or the director,' and 'Because it kept happening repeatedly from a young age, I was very scared.'"

About the perpetrator, Mr. A said, "He was a Taekwondo athlete in university and is currently serving as a social service agent. He is claiming that my son is lying out of jealousy because he is sick while he is attending university and doing well."

He added, "The gym director says he had no idea. Before filing a complaint against the perpetrator, I asked to meet and talk, but there was no contact until the petition was made public," expressing his frustration.

Regarding the possibility that "my son might be talking about things that did not actually happen," Mr. A said, "The statements he made during counseling with the attending doctor and to the police are exactly the same, and there is no mental abnormality. The memories are so horrific that they keep coming back, causing depression. When he sees on TV that similar incidents happened in the military, it triggers trauma, leading to repeated suicide attempts and self-harm."

Mr. A expressed his frustration, saying, "The police received the complaint in February, and it was transferred to the prosecution around late April or May, but we have not received any contact yet. We only got a text message saying it is in progress."

Regarding why he posted on the Blue House national petition, Mr. A said, "I think there are many victims like my son, and I wanted to give them a place to raise their voices," urging, "I want punishment for the perpetrator who destroyed my son's youthful dreams and life, and for the irresponsible gym director who has been consistent in neglect."