Webtoon Artist Joo Ho-min Speaks Out on Child Abuse Case Verdict

Webtoon artist and broadcaster Joo Ho-min has expressed his stance on the recent acquittal in the child abuse case involving a special education teacher and his son.

On October 10, Joo Ho-min posted a lengthy message on his YouTube channel. He stated, "As I resume broadcasting, I want to briefly address the recent trial. The special education teacher was found guilty in the first trial but acquitted in the second."

He continued, "Many people seem to think that the court ruled the teacher's actions were not abuse but legitimate educational activities. As a result, I've received many sarcastic comments like, 'Congratulations, your son wasn't abused after all.'"

Joo clarified, "The second trial did not determine whether the teacher's remarks constituted abuse. The evidence of those remarks was inadmissible due to the Protection of Communications Secrets Act. The court deemed it 'illegally obtained evidence' and issued an acquittal without reviewing the content. Yet, some are misrepresenting this as recognition of legitimate educational activities, which is a clear distortion."

He added, "The Supreme Court's decision is crucial. It's not just about my child's case but could set a precedent for how children and vulnerable individuals who cannot speak for themselves are protected in the future." Joo concluded by stating, "I will continue to correct any distortions or misunderstandings in this process."

Previously, the Suwon District Court overturned a lower court's ruling that fined the special education teacher 2 million won for child abuse, citing the inadmissibility of secretly recorded evidence. The prosecution has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

Joo Ho-min announced a temporary hiatus to focus on his family but resumed broadcasting after about a month.

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