40-Hour Child Abuse Treatment Program Completion Order
Victim Child "Assaulted During Okinawa Training Camp"
Director Son Ung-jung and others, who were summarily prosecuted on charges of verbally abusing and physically assaulting children affiliated with the youth soccer training institution they operate, were fined.
On the 11th, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Kim Taek-seong) issued summary orders imposing fines of 3 million won each, matching the prosecution's requested amount, on Director Son of 'SON Soccer Academy,' Head Coach Son Heung-yoon, and Coach A, who were summarily prosecuted on charges of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency on the same day. The court also ordered each defendant to complete 40 hours of a child abuse treatment program.
Earlier, the prosecution summarily prosecuted them for violating the Child Welfare Act. At that time, no employment restriction orders related to children, which could affect the operation of the academy, were requested. A summary order is a procedure that imposes fines or penalties based on written review alone for relatively minor offenses. If Director Son and others disagree with this, they can request a formal trial within seven days from the date the order is notified.
Director Son and others are accused of physically and emotionally abusing the victim child B in March. On March 19, B's side filed a complaint stating, "On March 9, during training camp in Okinawa, Head Coach Son Heung-yoon hit B's thigh with a corner kick pole, causing injuries that required two weeks of treatment." The complainants claimed that when the victim child's team lost a match, Head Coach Son ordered them to run from the goalpost to the center line within 20 seconds. However, when four of the children failed to return on time, they testified that they were struck on the buttocks with the corner kick pole while in a prone position.
Additionally, B testified that from March 7 to 12 during the Okinawa training camp, Director Son verbally abused him multiple times for mistakes. Coach A also reportedly hit the players' buttocks and calves several times in the dormitory where the academy's players lived together, pulled their sideburns, and struck their heads.
The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, which investigated the case, transferred Director Son and the other two to the prosecution in April. Upon the case becoming public, Director Son stated, "I swear that there was never any word or action by the academy coaches that was not based on love for the children," and added, "I reflect on having failed to catch up with the changing times and legal standards and having coached the children only in my own way."
Before the summary prosecution, Director Son and others deposited a total of 6 million won (2 million won each) with the court, but the victim's side refused to accept the deposit. Ryu Jae-yul, the lawyer representing B, said, "The deposit was made abruptly without any agreement, and the imposition of a 3 million won fine on the perpetrators is considered very lenient compared to other cases," and emphasized, "We hope that the Son Academy side reflects on their mistakes and refrains from teaching children through verbal abuse and physical assault, as judged by the prosecution and the court."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
