Forced to watch obscene material at playground with first graders... All were juvenile offenders under the law

All Suspects Are Upper Elementary Students
Cannot Be Held Criminally Responsible Due to Juvenile Law Exemption

Three upper-grade elementary school students were arrested by the police for approaching a lower-grade elementary school student returning home in Songdo International City, Incheon, and forcing him to watch obscene materials. Initially, they were suspected to be middle school students, but police investigation revealed that they are actually upper-grade elementary school students.

The Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Division of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency recently announced that they are investigating three upper-grade elementary school students, including a boy identified as A, on charges of forcible molestation.

Boy A and the others are accused of forcibly showing obscene materials to a lower-grade elementary school student, Boy B, on the 25th of last month in an apartment complex in Songdo International City, Incheon. It was revealed that the three boys are delinquent juveniles aged between 10 and under 14 years old. Under current law, delinquent juveniles cannot be held criminally responsible, and if sent to the juvenile court, they may receive protective measures ranging from supervision orders, community service orders, probation, to placement in juvenile detention centers, numbered from 1 to 10.

Boy B’s parents stated in their complaint, “Boy A and the others took our son to the apartment complex playground, forcibly showed him explicit videos, and also made physical contact,” adding, “Our son was sexually victimized while returning home after finishing his academy classes.”

The police identified and tracked down the perpetrators by analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage near the apartment complex, ultimately identifying Boy A and the other two boys.

A police official said, “Although the complaint stated that the suspects were middle school students, they were all confirmed to be elementary school students,” and added, “We are investigating the specific details of the case.” If they are found to be guilty, the case will be referred to the family court.