A special education teacher accused of emotionally abusing the son of webtoon artist Ju Homin was found guilty in the first trial.
On the 1st, Judge Kwak Yongheon of the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 9 suspended the sentencing of special education teacher A, who was charged with child abuse, and imposed a fine of 2 million won.
A is accused of emotionally abusing Ju's son (9 years old at the time) by saying things like, "You have very bad manners. Ugh, I hate you. I hate you to death. I hate you. I hate you too. Really hate you," in a tailored learning class at an elementary school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on September 13, 2022.
Ju's side reported A to the police on charges of child abuse after sending a recorder with his son to school last year and based on the recorded content.
Earlier, the prosecution requested the court to sentence A to 10 months in prison during the sentencing hearing.
This case sparked controversy last year through media reports, with some questioning whether Ju's side had excessively accused the special education teacher. Criticism was also raised about the parent sending a recorder with the son to school.
The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations and other educators submitted petitions to the court requesting leniency for A, and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education reinstated A, who had been suspended from duty on August 1 last year due to the child abuse report.
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that a teacher's statements during class secretly recorded by the victim child's parent are considered ‘non-public conversations’ and thus lack evidentiary value. The court stated, "A teacher's statements during class are generally intended only for students in the classroom and are not disclosed to the general public or an unspecified majority," and judged that "the defendant's statements during class secretly recorded by the victim child's parent constitute ‘conversations between others.’"
Ju announced his intention to return to broadcasting through his YouTube channel community the day before. Ju said, "It's been a while since I greeted you. Tomorrow (February 1) at 9 p.m., I plan to do a Twitch live broadcast. I will tell you about everything that has happened."
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