Father Makes Son Who Hit Friend Run Laps on Playground... Debate Over Discipline vs Abuse

Father Makes Son Run on Playground to Discipline Him for Hitting Friend
Netizens Divided Over Father's Disciplinary Method

A father who made his son run around the school playground to discipline him for hitting a friend was almost reported by bystanders, sparking mixed reactions from netizens. On the 24th, JTBC's 'Case Manager' reported the story of Mr. A, a father of a middle school son. The incident began when Mr. A's son, unable to tolerate a friend who had been continuously teasing him, hit the friend. As a father, Mr. A took his son to the school playground and told him to "reflect while running," making him run four laps. This was a so-called 'running laps on the playground' as a form of discipline.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

However, a passing couple approached Mr. A and criticized him, saying, "This is an insult to character; this is not how you discipline." They even threatened to report him to the police. Mr. A gave his son water and let him rest while monitoring his condition, and tried to explain the situation calmly. Then, another middle-aged woman joined in, claiming, "I am a principal of a certain school," and asked for the son's name and school information. Not wanting to escalate the situation, Mr. A advised his son, "From now on, if you can't control your emotions, run laps like this," and ended the discipline. However, Mr. A lamented, "I wonder how far the scope of discipline extends and whether making my son run laps on the playground is really something that should be reported."

The opinions of four panelists on the story were divided. One panelist who supported Mr. A's discipline as "justified and agreeable" said, "If parents cannot intervene to this extent when their child is wrong, then I don't know how far child discipline can go. Isn't it a parent's role to make their child repent and reflect when they are at fault?"

On the other hand, panelists who opposed the discipline said, "If the discipline caused the child to lose control of their body, it could be considered child abuse," and added, "No matter how much they are your child, causing mental or physical pain is child abuse." Another panelist commented, "The bystanders probably intervened because the son looked distressed." Netizens also had mixed opinions on the story. Some said, "If you can't do at least this much, what role should a parent play?" while others responded, "No matter who the parent is, physical discipline is not right."

Under the current Child Welfare Act, threatening a child by pushing them against a wall or making them sit in a high place, like the 'thinking chair,' is defined as child abuse. The Child Welfare Act defines a child as anyone under 18 years old and strictly prohibits emotional abuse that harms their mental health and development. Violators face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won. In particular, if the abuser is someone with the duty and responsibility to actively protect children, such as parents or teachers, the law mandates 1.5 times harsher penalties.