'Forced to Plow Like an Ox': Sentence for Man in His 70s Who Exploited Neighbor with Intellectual Disability

Violation of the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act...
1 Year in Prison, 3 Years Suspended Sentence
Decades of Forced Labor Unspecified...
Only 2 Incidents Prosecuted

A man in his 70s who forced a neighbor with a severe intellectual disability to do farm work by harnessing him to a plow, as if he were an ox, has been given a suspended prison sentence. Although this abuse reportedly continued for decades, only two recent incidents were included in the indictment because earlier offenses could not be specifically dated.

On December 18, 2025, Judge Kang Hyeonho of the Cheongju District Court’s 4th Criminal Division sentenced the man, referred to as A, to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, for violating the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act and other charges. The court also ordered 80 hours of community service and banned him from working at institutions related to people with disabilities for three years.

A was brought to trial for forcing his neighbor B, a man in his 70s with a level 3 intellectual disability, to work on his farm on two occasions in April and May 2023. During these incidents, A subjected B to cruel treatment by making him pull a plow, as if he were an ox. Investigations revealed that A intimidated B, who lives alone, with verbal abuse and threats in order to commit these acts.

In addition, A used an agricultural duty-free fuel card issued in B’s name to purchase duty-free fuel worth 1.2 million won, which he then appropriated for himself.

A is known to have forced B to do farm work for decades, starting in 1995. However, because the specific dates and actions could not be identified, these incidents were not included in the criminal charges.

Judge Kang pointed out, “The victim appears to have suffered prolonged mental and physical pain as a result of the defendant’s actions, and this is likely to cause various difficulties in his future life.” However, he explained the sentencing by stating, “The sentence was determined in consideration of the fact that the defendant reached a settlement with the victim and that only two instances of forced labor were prosecuted.”