South Korean court sentences former care home director to 15 years for sexual assault

September 2, 2026 at 03:14 PM2 min

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A South Korean court sentenced the former director of a care home for disabled people to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting multiple residents. The verdict follows a government inspection of 1,507 facilities that identified 33 suspected abuse cases. The case has sparked debate over protections for disabled people despite strengthened laws in 2011.

Key Facts

The former director, identified only by the surname Kim, was convicted of sexually assaulting three residents at the Saekdongwon care center in Incheon, west of Seoul.
The verdict is subject to appeal.
Police launched an investigation after a woman with severe intellectual disabilities reported the abuse in February last year.
Following the case, the South Korean government inspected 1,507 care facilities nationwide and identified 33 suspected abuse cases.
A county review found that 20 additional female residents may have been sexually abused at the center.

The Verdict

A South Korean court sentenced the former director of Saekdongwon care center to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting three residents. The defendant, identified only by the surname Kim, committed the assaults at the facility in Incheon, west of Seoul. The verdict is subject to appeal.

Investigation and Government Response

Police began investigating Kim after a woman with severe intellectual disabilities reported the abuse in February last year. After the case became public, the South Korean government launched inspections of 1,507 care facilities for disabled people nationwide. The inspections identified 33 suspected abuse cases. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called the events at Saekdongwon "a matter serious enough to question the very reason for the state's existence."

Facility Closure and Legal Disputes

A comprehensive review by Ganghwa County found that 20 additional female residents may have been sexually abused at the center. Ganghwa County decided to close Saekdongwon, and Incheon city authorities revoked the operating foundation's license. The closure was postponed to allow for the transfer of remaining residents to other centers and completion of independent living arrangements. The foundation operating the center filed an administrative lawsuit against the license revocation.