'Gwangju Disabled Sexual Assault Allegation' Parents "Fear Retaliation Crime" National Petition

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the 24th, a petition was posted on the Blue House National Petition site stating that they live each day in fear and anxiety due to the threat of retaliatory crime by the perpetrator, amid allegations that an employee of a welfare center for the disabled in Gwangju sexually assaulted an intellectually disabled person last May.

The poster, who identified themselves as the parent of the intellectually disabled sexual assault victim, said, "My daughter has been receiving treatment for a mental disability since she was young, and now at 26 years old, she is an intellectually disabled person with an IQ of 44." They continued, "In 2019, she had liver problems and went to a large hospital, where she was advised to exercise for more than 30 minutes a day. Since then, she started attending the municipal welfare center for the disabled, where she met the perpetrator."

They added, "Employee A treated my daughter kindly and was a sociable person who knew that my daughter was intellectually disabled," and "One day, while my daughter was hospitalized for a month at Naju Psychiatric Hospital due to illness, A contacted me, worried because he couldn't see my daughter."

They said, "I replied that I could not visit because she was currently hospitalized, and afterward, A personally contacted my daughter, saying ‘I will buy you fried chicken when you are discharged.’ The sexual assault incident occurred exactly three weeks after my daughter was discharged from Naju Psychiatric Hospital, on May 17."

They explained, "A contacted my daughter, saying ‘I will buy you fried chicken today. Come out.’ Since my daughter was familiar with A, whom she had met before, she got into A’s vehicle without suspicion." They continued, "My daughter said in the car, ‘Let’s go with mom,’ but A said, ‘Don’t bring your mom, just the two of us. Let’s keep our outing a secret,’ and then took my daughter and left."

They further stated, "A sexually molested my daughter while driving around the beaches of Hampyeong, then gave her 500cc of beer after drinking a beverage himself to intoxicate her, and took her to a motel where he sexually assaulted her." They added, "I even considered an extreme choice out of guilt for not protecting my daughter, but I gritted my teeth and found the courage to protect her now."

They emphasized, "I reported to the police, but they said my daughter’s testimony was insufficient, and the warrant for A was ultimately dismissed." They added, "Then A sent threatening messages, citing false accusation and defamation charges."

They continued, "Even now, A openly roams the streets. I live trembling with anxiety and nervousness every moment, fearing that A might retaliate," and added, "Please be a source of strength for me and my weak daughter."

The police reportedly forwarded the case to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment without detention.

Meanwhile, following the sexual assault allegations, on June 2, the Gwangju City Disabled Comprehensive Welfare Center held an internal disciplinary committee and unanimously decided to dismiss employee A.