Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min expressed his feelings after the special education teacher A, who was indicted on charges of child abuse against his son, was acquitted in the appeals court.
On the 13th, Joo Ho-min posted on the community board of his YouTube channel, "Today, there was a second trial ruling regarding the emotional child abuse case against our child."
He continued, "The appeals court focused on the legal effectiveness of the evidence proving the abuse rather than addressing whether the abuse occurred, and thus acquitted the defendant. Although this result is not what we hoped for, we respect the court's decision. I understand that the prosecution is considering whether to appeal, and our family will quietly observe that process."
Joo Ho-min also lamented, "How can we prove the abuse of a child with disabilities, which is difficult to express... I still have not found an answer, and my heart is heavy."
He added, "For the time being, I intend to quietly stay by my family's side. Even if I step away for a while, I will not forget the support and love you have sent," announcing that he would suspend his activities for the time being.
Teacher A is accused of emotionally abusing Joo Ho-min's son by saying, "You have a very bad habit. I hate it. I dislike you. I also dislike you," in a classroom at an elementary school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, around September 2022.
On the 13th, the 6-2 division of the Suwon District Court (presided by Kim Eun-jung) overturned the first trial's ruling, which had suspended a fine of 2 million won for the special education teacher A indicted for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, and acquitted him.
The original court recognized the exceptional admissibility of the "secret recording" made by Joo Ho-min's side, who sent a recorder in his son's coat to school, considering that his child is autistic. However, the appeals court ruled that "it falls under 'undisclosed conversations between others' in violation of the Communications Privacy Protection Act, and therefore cannot be used as evidence."
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
