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Care facility director indicted after allegedly sexually assaulting multiple residents

Published: 19 Mar. 2026, 22:35

The director of Saekdongwon, center, is seen at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Feb. 19 to attend a pretrial detention hearing. Saekdongwon is a residential facility for people with developmental disabilities in Incheon. [YONHAP]

A residential care facility director has been indicted with detention on charges of sexually assaulting multiple residents with severe disabilities.

The defendant, surnamed Kim and head of the Saekdongwon residential care facility in Incheon for people with severe disabilities, faces numerous charges, including rape of a person with a disability under protection and injury resulting from rape, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said on Thursday.

Prosecutors allege that Kim assaulted four residents of the facility: three sexually and one physically by striking the victim’s palm 34 times with a drumstick.

The charges stem from a series of assaults identified through forensic analysis of the victims’ statements.

The director of Saekdongwon, center, is seen leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Feb. 19 after attending a pretrial detention hearing. Saekdongwon is a residential facility for people with developmental disabilities in Incheon. [YONHAP]

One victim said that they were sexually assaulted by Kim in February 2025 while going to the bathroom, where they were injured after being struck on the head with a glass cup for resisting. During that same month, they were also sexually assaulted inside their room.

Given the victim’s disability, prosecutors relied on video-recorded statements collected during the police investigation and did not conduct additional questioning.

Prosecutors added charges after determining that, although the victim had difficulty specifying the exact number of assaults, they consistently distinguished between incidents that occurred in the bathroom and those in their room in their testimony.

Two other victims were allegedly sexually assaulted in different parts of the facility, including a bathroom and a living area. However, investigators were unable to determine the precise timing and frequency of the attacks.

Prosecutors said they formed a dedicated investigation team and analyzed the victims’ statements even before the police referred the case to them. The probe included additional interviews and forensic analysis to uncover any additional crimes.

Separately, a special investigation unit under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is continuing its probe into other individuals linked to the facility.

Authorities have also worked to support the victims through medical and financial assistance. On March 10, prosecutors convened a case management committee to arrange psychiatric care, language and art therapy and financial support, including relocation costs and emergency living expenses.

The victims have since relocated to other care facilities or returned home.

A prosecution official pledged strict action against crimes targeting vulnerable groups.

“We will do our utmost to maintain the prosecution so that the defendant receives punishments that fit the crime,” the official said. “We will continue to thoroughly investigate crimes against socially vulnerable groups, including people with developmental disabilities, in cooperation with relevant agencies.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG JIN-HO [[email protected]]