Police Transfer Saekdongwon Director to Prosecution in Custody over Alleged Sexual Assault of Disabled Residents

Preliminary Investigation into 67 Former Residents

Additional Investigation into 4 Individuals Under Inquiry

The former director of Saekdongwon, a residential facility for people with severe disabilities located in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, has been referred to the prosecution while in custody on charges of sexually assaulting residents with disabilities.

Kim Mo, the head of Saekdongwon facility, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after completing the warrant review on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

On February 27, the Saekdongwon Special Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that Kim, the former director of Saekdongwon, has been transferred to the prosecution under arrest on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act. The police also stated that investigations into two former teachers, who are being investigated without detention on charges of violating the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act (assault), have been completed, and their cases will be transferred to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, which has jurisdiction over the incident location.

Kim is accused of forcing female residents with disabilities to engage in sexual intercourse or coercing them into acts of a sexual nature.

The special investigation unit is also continuing investigations into four staff members who were previously under preliminary investigation for violating the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act. In addition, the unit is conducting preliminary inquiries into 67 more individuals who were previously admitted to Saekdongwon. A police spokesperson stated, "We will conduct a swift and thorough investigation, including analyzing additional in-depth reports received from public and private organizations."

Meanwhile, allegations of subsidy embezzlement are being investigated by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The police are analyzing confiscated items obtained during a search and seizure conducted on February 20, while continuing to question those involved.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.