Don't Miss

Child abuse at Korean daycare caught on camera

January 15, 2015

By Lee Ji-hye

Shocking footage of a teacher striking a four-year-old girl at a daycare center in Incheon has gone viral online.

The Incheon Yeonsu Police Station confirmed that the incident, captured by a CCTV camera, had occurred in Songdo by a teacher surnamed Yang, 33. Yang apparently struck the girl because she had not finished everything on her plate.

The mother of the girl reported to the police on Monday after her daughter had shown “abnormal behavior,” police said.

The footage dated Jan. 8, released to the media by police officials, shows the teacher ordering the girl to eat her leftover food, hitting her arms and face as the girl has difficulties forcing down the food.

More than five children are also seen in the video kneeling on the floor as Yang’s scolding continues.

Yang was summoned by investigators on Monday, and was reported to have admitted her actions.

The footage has circulated widely on the Internet. Text messages reportedly sent by the school to parents have been shared as well.

One message read, “We understand that you might have been surprised by all the media reports, but we would like to remind you that classes will take place as usual, and that we will take care of your children sincerely.”

The official website for the daycare center has been temporarily shut down, and the center’s telephone has been turned off.

“We will continue to look through other CCTV recordings, and check if there were similar incidents in the past,” a police official was quoted as saying.