In brief
A former director of the Saekdongwon care home in Incheon City has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting three residents with intellectual disabilities. The case, uncovered after a victim reported abuse, prompted a nationwide inspection of 1,507 care facilities that revealed 33 suspected incidents. Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok condemned the scandal as a grave violation of the state’s duty to protect the vulnerable and ordered the facility’s closure while relocation plans for residents are finalized.
A South Korean court has jailed former Saekdongwon care home director Kim for sexually abusing three disabled residents, imposing a 15‑year sentence.
The abuse was reported by a woman with severe intellectual disability in February last year, prompting police to investigate.
Authorities inspected 1,507 disabled care facilities nationwide, uncovering 33 suspected abuse cases, and ordered Saekdongwon’s closure while arranging residents’ relocation.
Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok condemned the malpractice as a “grave matter that calls into question the very reason for the state’s existence.”
The case highlights gaps in oversight despite laws strengthened in 2011 to protect people with disabilities from sexual assault.
