The Twist in the "Hadong Seodang Bizarre Assault and Torture Case"... Victimized Student Was Also an Offender Elsewhere

A petition posted last March on the Blue House National Petition Board exposing a bizarre assault and torture incident that occurred at a Seodang in Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam. [Image source=Blue House National Petition Board]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] The case has been transferred to the court after it was revealed that the victim of the 'Hadong Seodang Bizarre Assault Incident' was the perpetrator in another case.

During the police investigation into the bizarre assault and torture incident that took place at a Seodang (traditional private school) in Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, which was exposed through a Blue House national petition in March and sparked public outrage nationwide, it was revealed that the victimized youth was also a perpetrator.

According to the police, A (13), known as the victim of the incident, was previously a perpetrator who committed similar acts against other students.

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 15th that they had sent A to the Juvenile Division of Changwon District Court on the 3rd on charges of assault, insult, and violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse. A is accused of assaulting, insulting, and forcibly molesting four other students living in the same dormitory last year.

After A’s victimization was publicized in March, a police investigation was conducted. Subsequently, in April, a complaint was filed stating that A had committed acts similar to the assault and torture that A had suffered, but against other students in the past.

According to the complaint, from October last year for two months, A placed pillows over the faces of the victims to suffocate them and assaulted them by hitting their shoulders and solar plexus.

It is also reported that A forced a younger student in the same dormitory to kiss and committed acts such as touching or pinching the chest, among other charges.

The police, after summoning A once and investigating A’s perpetration over seven months, decided to send A to the court.

A police official said, "A is a 'chokbeopsonyeon' (juvenile offender under the age of criminal responsibility) and has been treated as a witness. Based on the investigation, it was judged that some of the assault charges, insult, and violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse stated in the complaint were valid, so the case was sent to the Juvenile Division."

Under the Juvenile Act, a ‘chokbeopsonyeon’ is a juvenile aged 10 to 14 who is sent to the Juvenile Division of the Family Court for protective measures instead of criminal punishment.

At the time of the initial exposure, A’s parents demanded through the national petition that a strong investigation and inquiry be conducted into the perpetrators and the Seodang, stating, "One of the perpetrators is under 14 and a chokbeopsonyeon, but we want all perpetrators to be severely punished." However, now the victim has become subject to protective measures.