25.04.10.Today News : High School Student Assaults Teacher in Class / Taekwondo instructor gets 30 years in prison for 'child abuse killing'

1. High School Student Assaults Teacher in Class

A high school student assaulted a teacher at a school in the Mokdong area of Seoul.

At around 10 a.m. on the 10th, a senior student at a high school in Sinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu struck a teacher in the face with the hand holding his phone during class.

The student had been playing a game on his phone during class and got into an altercation with the teacher after being reprimanded, during which he assaulted the teacher.

The school's principal said, "The student was immediately separated from the teacher and the incident was reported to the local education support office by phone," adding that "further actions will follow procedures set by the Regional Teachers' Rights Protection Committee."

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated that it has requested a report on the incident from the local education support office.

According to the education office, the teacher left early for medical treatment and will take special leave. The student was handed over to a guardian and sent home. Students who recorded the assault were instructed by the school to delete the footage.

The education office is coordinating with the school to determine follow-up actions and plans to convene a Teachers' Rights Protection Committee soon. This committee investigates cases of teachers' rights violations and can impose measures such as community service or suspension from school.

A representative of the education office said, "Our top priority is supporting the recovery of the victimized teacher, and we will also provide counseling and education to students who witnessed the incident."

One-line summary : A high school senior assaulted a teacher who pointed out his gaming during class, prompting disciplinary action from the school and education office.

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2. Taekwondo instructor gets 30 years in prison for 'child abuse killing'

A taekwondo instructor who abused a 5-year-old student by placing him upside down inside a mat and caused his death was sentenced to a heavy prison term.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Uijeongbu District Court (Presiding Judge Oh Chang-seop) on the 10th sentenced a man in his 30s, Mr. A, to 30 years in prison for charges including child abuse resulting in death.

Additionally, he was ordered to complete 40 hours of a child abuse treatment program and was banned from working at institutions related to children and youth for 10 years.

The court stated, "The defendant recognized that there was a risk or possibility of the child dying if left untreated after the abuse but still neglected the child for about 27 minutes." It continued, "He had also abused more than 20 other children for a significant period and treated the abuse as mere play, raising doubts about his sincerity."

"The defendant tried to shift blame to another instructor, deleted CCTV footage even after the victim lost consciousness, and forced the instructor to give false testimony, showing a serious attempt to destroy evidence," the court said. "Although the defendant claims he had no intent to kill, an average person would have recognized the risk of death."

The court added, "The victim’s family suffers unbearable pain and guilt, attending every court session and demanding severe punishment. The incident has caused fear among parents who send their children to taekwondo classes."

Previously, prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Mr. A during the final hearing on March 20.

Mr. A’s lawyer argued, “The CCTV footage could be interpreted differently from the indictment,” and claimed there was uncertainty about whether the actions were intentional abuse.

In his final statement, Mr. A said, “I will not make excuses for my actions. I am truly sorry.” However, he could not avoid a heavy sentence.

The mother of the victim collapsed in tears after the verdict and had to be helped out of the courtroom by court staff.

She told reporters, “Our country’s child protection laws are too weak. This seems like the maximum sentence, but honestly, he deserves a punishment worse than the death penalty,” and added, “Whether it's the second or third trial, I will fight to the end.”

Mr. A was indicted last July 12 for placing a 5-year-old child, B, upside down inside a rolled-up mat at a taekwondo studio in Deokgye-dong, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, which led to the child's death.

Even after finding the child unconscious, Mr. A did not immediately perform CPR and instead deleted CCTV footage, attempting to cover up the incident.

According to investigators, Mr. A physically and emotionally abused a total of 26 students—including B—on 124 occasions by putting them upside down in mats, pinching their cheeks, and hitting them.

One-line summary : A taekwondo master was sentenced to 30 years in prison for abusing and killing a 5-year-old child, highlighting the grave seriousness of child abuse once again.