"Just Send Me to a Psychiatric Hospital"... Female High School Student Abused at Church Eventually Dies

Mother Sent Daughter Needing Psychiatric Treatment to Church
Forced Bible Writing and Stair Climbing

A high school girl who died from abuse by a church member and the choir director was subjected to harsh treatment such as climbing stairs without proper sleep for five days. On the 24th, Yonhap News quoted the indictment submitted by the prosecution to Yusangbeom, a member of the People Power Party, stating that the high school girl A (17) needed psychiatric treatment for bipolar affective disorder but was sent to the church instead of a hospital on February 14. This was because A's mother, who was discussing A's mental illness treatment plan with church members, sent her daughter to the church after being told, "The choir will take care of A's treatment."

However, B (52, female), the choir director and daughter of the church founder, instructed church member C (54, female) to "break her spirit when she acts out or does not obey," effectively ordering abuse and receiving reports on the situation. After arriving at the church, A said, "I want to run away. Please send me to a psychiatric hospital instead," but the church members confined A in the church and monitored her to prevent escape. Despite showing symptoms requiring hospital treatment, they repeatedly subjected A to harsh treatment such as tying her up. For five days without sleep, A was forced to write the Bible and was ordered to climb stairs from the basement first floor to the seventh floor above ground for an hour.

Even after receiving reports on the situation, B sent messages to C and others saying, "Do not relax or back down," and "You must scold her severely," continuing the harsh treatment. Due to the ongoing abuse, A's health deteriorated, and by May 4, she lost control of her bladder and bowels, and by May 6, she was unable to consume any food or water.

B received reports from C and others about this situation and personally checked A's condition but did not take any treatment measures. Instead, they purchased restraint bands used for dementia patients to bind A more tightly. They also searched internet portal sites for terms like "body pressure points," "straps used to tie during hospital seizures," and "mental hospital beatings" to find ways to abuse A more severely. After continuous abuse, A eventually lost consciousness and collapsed around 8 p.m. on May 15. She was transported to the hospital by the 119 emergency team but died four hours later.

The prosecution arrested and indicted B, C, and another church member on charges including child abuse homicide, and the first trial was held on the 5th of this month at the Incheon District Court. C's lawyer stated in court, "We deny all charges," and the lawyers for B and others also denied the intentionality of the crime and foreseeability of death. The second trial for these three defendants is scheduled for the 12th of next month at 10 a.m. in courtroom 319 of the Incheon District Court.