"Group Sexual Assault Perpetrators Became Teachers and Firefighters" Expos? Sparks Controversy

2010 Daejeon Intellectually Disabled Female Middle School Student Sexual Assault Case
"Claims of Complete Identity Wash After Juvenile Protection Disposition"

Claims that the perpetrators of the 'Daejeon intellectually disabled female middle school student group sexual assault' case have become elementary school teachers and firefighters are spreading online.

On the 21st, a post titled "A crazy incident where intellectually disabled minor group rapists became elementary school teachers and firefighters" was uploaded on an online community. The author, Mr. A, introduced himself as "an acquaintance of the perpetrators of the 'Daejeon intellectually disabled female middle school student group sexual assault case' that caused a stir in South Korea 12 years ago" and continued the post.

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. / Photo by Yonhap News

Mr. A wrote, "At the time, the perpetrators, who were high school students, gang-raped a disabled person, but because they were young and good at studying, and although the victim wanted severe punishment, they reached an agreement with the victim's father, so they effectively received a 'juvenile protection disposition' which can be seen as acquittal."

He claimed, "Legally, those who receive juvenile protection disposition cannot be subjected to any disadvantages, it is not a criminal record, and it cannot even be disclosed. The perpetrators have been admitted to prestigious universities and are living well, and some of them have completely washed their identities by working in public positions such as elementary school teachers and firefighters."

This case involved 16 male high school students in the Daejeon area who gang-raped an intellectually disabled female middle school student they met through chatting. They are accused of luring the victim to a restroom in a building in Seo-gu, Daejeon, and repeatedly gang-raping her over about a month.

However, at the time, the police conducted a non-custodial investigation because the victim did not actively resist, and the court issued juvenile protection dispositions to the defendants because an agreement was reached with the victim's family and the victim's family did not want punishment.

Mr. A said, "I understand well the purpose of the law that criminals also need social reintegration. I also understand the intention to give young students who committed crimes a chance for rehabilitation," but he argued, "However, I believe that rapists who gang-raped a minor disabled person by 16 people should not become elementary school teachers or firefighters."

He added, "Just as rapists have the right to return to society, I believe my child also has the right not to be educated by rapists," and "Please protect the right not to be educated or rescued by rapist teachers or rapist firefighters."