Seongnam City Considers Administrative Action and Criminal Charges Against Yegawon, a Residential Facility for Persons with Disabilities, Following Resident Death

Work Violations and Improper Orders Found in Special Inspections
Comprehensive Investigation Launched into All Residential Facilities for Persons with Disabilities
Human Rights Checks and Preventive Measures to Be Implemented

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor: Shin Sang-jin) is reviewing administrative action and criminal charges against the head of the residential facility for persons with disabilities, Yegawon, where an incident involving the death of a resident due to assault occurred. The city has also initiated a special comprehensive investigation into all residential facilities for persons with disabilities within its jurisdiction to examine human rights violations and the overall state of operations.

A view of Seongnam City Hall. Provided by Seongnam City

Seongnam City announced on the 1st that, after two special inspections of Yegawon in Yatap-dong, it had confirmed evidence of work violations by the facility's head, as well as improper instructions given to staff members.

On July 21, a Yegawon resident collapsed after being assaulted by a facility social worker and was transferred to a hospital, but passed away two days later. The social worker, identified as the perpetrator, was arrested and charged with bodily injury resulting in death, and was also dismissed from the facility.

According to the city’s investigation, at the time of the incident, the facility head left the premises accompanied by a facility staff member to visit a private hospital for a medical check-up, without properly reporting leave or handling work leave procedures.

The city determined this to be both a work violation by the facility head and an improper instruction to a subordinate staff member, and officially requested that the facility take personnel action against the head. Administrative penalty procedures according to relevant laws are also underway. If further investigation determines legal responsibility for the resident’s death lies with the facility head, criminal charges will be filed.

Yegawon is operated with subsidies—70 percent from the national government, 4.5 percent from Gyeonggi Province, and 25.5 percent from Seongnam City. Under the Social Welfare Services Act and the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act, the city has conducted annual supervisory inspections, subsidy audits, and facility safety checks.

In light of this incident, Seongnam City will also conduct a special comprehensive investigation of all residential facilities for persons with disabilities in the area. The investigation team will review facility operations, staff work compliance, and user protection systems, and will conduct one-on-one interviews with both users and staff members.

If any human rights violations or illegal or unfair practices are identified during the investigation, the city will take appropriate action in accordance with the law, and will establish a comprehensive set of measures to strengthen facility supervision and human rights protections to prevent recurrence.

Previously, in March, Seongnam City, the Bundang Police Station, and the Seongnam Center for the Promotion of Disability Rights jointly conducted a human rights inspection of Yegawon’s residents and staff, which found no notable issues. Joint human rights inspections by police and professional organizations are conducted twice a year, in the first and second halves.

A Seongnam City official stated, “We take the resident’s death with utmost seriousness and are working to determine the facts and legal responsibility. Depending on the results of the investigation, we will take every possible measure, including administrative action and criminal charges. Through comprehensive investigations and the implementation of preventive measures, we are committed to thoroughly protecting the human rights and safety of persons with disabilities.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.