’2nd Dogani’ stirs controversy

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 17:43

’2nd Dogani’ stirs controversy

원장이 장애아동 폭행 '제2 도가니' 논란

Posted : 2011-10-06 15:45

Updated : 2011-10-06 15:45

By Kim Jong-chan

A report that the chief of a state-subsidized institute for disabled children used violence against a student at the school has stirred controversy.

After the case was revealed, the government suspended subsidies for the institute. But the school changed its name and was chosen again as a recipient of state funding, the report said.

The incident came to light as the entire nation has been venting collective fury over the past several weeks following the release of a box-office hit film, titled “Dogani,” based on a true story about sexual assaults against deaf students by teachers at a school in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

The latest case indicates that child abuses and human rights violations are problems facing many schools for disabled students, observers say.

The 13-year-old boy, identified only by his surname Jung, was said to have been assaulted by the school principal twice on Aug. 10. According to the student’s mother, Wednesday, “My son had bruises on his hips, thighs, stomach and knees.”

“After that, he could not sleep, and hid himself in his room whenever visitors came.”

The mother, 41, said the bruises her son had on his body did not disappear for more than two weeks. “I was upset whenever my son told me, imitating what happened (on Aug. 10), he had a headache.”

원장이 장애아동 폭행 '제2 도가니' 논란
국가가 교육비를 지원하는 서울의 한 장애아동 교육기관에서 원장이 장애아동을 무차별 폭행한 사실이 알려져 파문이 일고 있다. 더욱이 이 기관은 폭행 사실이 드러나 국가지원이 취소되자 시설 이름 등을 바꿔 대상 기관으로 재선정된 것으로 밝혀져 논란을 빚고 있다. 광주 인화학교 장애학생 상습 성폭행 사건을 다룬 영화 '도가니'가 사회적으로 큰 파장을 불어왔지만, 장애아동 시설의 아동학대와 인권침해가 인화학교만의 문제가 아님을 보여주는 사례다. 지난해 봄부터 서울 노원구의 한 사설 특수교육기관에 다니던 지적장애1급 정모(13)군은 지난 8월 10일 원장 육모씨로부터 두 차례에 걸쳐 폭행을 당했다. 정군의 어머니 김모(41)씨는 5일 "아이의 엉덩이와 허벅지 배 무릎이 온통 멍투성이였다"면서 "그 일이 있은 후 아이가 잠을 못 자고, 누가 집에 찾아오기라도 하면 문도 못 열게 하고 방으로 숨어버린다"고 말했다. 김씨는 "그날 맞아서 생긴 아들의 멍이 2주가 넘도록 지지 않았다"며 "원장이 머리채를 잡고 끌고 들어가던 당시 상황을 아이가 흉내 내며 머리가 아프다고 할 땐 억장이 무너졌다"고 말했다.

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