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Abuse by Center Director at Busan Facility for Disabled Lasted 2.5 Years; 'Closed Nature' Fuels Human Rights Concerns
Abuse by Center Director at Disability Facility and Whistleblower Report
Shocking revelations have emerged from a disability care facility in Busan, where a center director allegedly subjected residents with disabilities to abuse for over two and a half years. Released footage shows the director grabbing a disabled person's arms and forcefully pushing them down, indicating painful acts. Following an initial report by KBS, more abuse videos have successively come to light. It was confirmed that the surveillance cameras inside the facility at the time were mock-ups, making it difficult to prove the abuse.
In this situation, facility staff members evaded surveillance, using each other as cover, to collect over 30 video pieces of evidence over six months before blowing the whistle. They stated that the process of gathering evidence was arduous, aimed at refuting the center director's false claim that it was "just a one-off incident." A parent of one of the disabled victims revealed that staff members tearfully apologized, belatedly informing them of how much their children had suffered.
Human Rights Violations in Closed Structures and Demand for Measures
According to Ministry of Health and Welfare data, abuse of persons with disabilities in congregate living facilities occurs more than 300 times annually, with 354 cases in 2022, 385 in 2023, and 345 in 2024. This demonstrates that the closed structure of disability facilities leads to serious problems, resulting in human rights violations for residents.
Choi Young-ah, Director of the Hamggesangsang Center for Independent Living for the Disabled, emphasized the need for a more thorough investigation, including not only the direct victims but also their parents. However, there is a severe shortage of personnel and budget to conduct such investigations regularly. Regarding this abuse incident, Busan Police have launched a comprehensive investigation, including video analysis, based on the complaint.
*Source: YouTube: KBS News (2026-03-11)*
