Seogangseok, Songpa District Mayor, Urges "Parents of Lawmaker Baehyeonjin's Assault Perpetrator to Publicly Apologize to the People"

Legal and Moral Responsibility for Custodians to Apologize

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, demanded a public apology from the parents of the middle school student who brutally assaulted Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin.

On the 28th, Seo posted on his Facebook, "Everyone in the district must have felt the same fear, confusion, and shock, even trauma, after seeing Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin being brutally attacked by a 15-year-old middle school offender in a KakaoTalk chat room," and stated, "The offender's parents should publicly apologize to the people who are deeply hurt by their minor child's brutal crime."

He emphasized, "Who on earth created such a monster at the age of 15?" and added, "If they cannot do that, they should at least sincerely and genuinely apologize to the crime victim, Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin."

As legal guardians of their minor child, the parents have legal responsibilities to apologize, as they are the child's legal representatives (Civil Act Article 911), property managers (Civil Act Article 916), and persons with the right and duty to protect and nurture the child (Civil Act Article 913). They also bear moral responsibilities as parents.

However, Seo expressed regret that the minor offender's parents have not apologized to the public nor even contacted or expressed any intention to apologize to the victim, Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin.

Seo stated that although Assemblywoman Bae's wounds have not yet healed, she was discharged from the hospital less than 48 hours after the incident to avoid causing public concern, hoping that the wounds from the crime are not too deep, and wishing her a speedy recovery from the trauma of the fear of death.

Seo visited Soonchunhyang Hospital, where Assemblywoman Bae was admitted, after seeing the news immediately following the incident, and on the 29th, he planned to call Assemblywoman Bae directly to offer his condolences.