SBS Show Reveals Shocking Details of the Gwangju Inhwa School Incident

The SBS variety program 'Cocome' aired its 162nd episode on February 13, 2025, focusing on the harrowing 'Gwangju Inhwa School Incident' from 2005. The episode featured the first-ever interview with a key eyewitness, shedding light on previously unknown aspects of the case that sparked outrage and sorrow among viewers.

The episode began with a student named Sunhwa, who attended Inhwa School, the only school for the hearing-impaired in Gwangju, revealing to a friend that she had been sexually assaulted by the school's administrative director. Shockingly, she disclosed that multiple teachers were involved and that she had been victimized since the first grade. Actress Ha Yoon-kyung expressed her disbelief, stating, "It makes me want to cry. How can someone do such a thing while pretending to be human?"

Sunhwa was not alone; over 30 students came forward with similar allegations against about ten perpetrators. The statistics were alarming: one in three male teachers was a perpetrator, and one in three students was a victim. Many of the affected students lived in the dormitory due to a lack of guardians, making them particularly vulnerable. Musical actor Son Ho-jun could not hide his anger, calling the actions of the perpetrators "extremely malicious."

As the truth about Inhwa School emerged, a sexual violence response committee was formed, but the school administration was quick to deny the allegations. The situation raised suspicions about the potential collusion within the school's governing body, the Woosuk Foundation. Ultimately, only four of the more than ten identified perpetrators faced legal consequences, and their sentences were shockingly lenient. Some perpetrators returned to the school after the trial, while five teachers who supported the students faced disciplinary action. Many victims eventually left the school, and the case faded into obscurity.

The turning point came when author Gong Ji-young visited the sexual violence response committee. She recounted reading a small article that described a courtroom filled with the incomprehensible screams of hearing-impaired individuals as the perpetrators were released on probation. Feeling guilty for her ignorance, she immediately traveled to Gwangju, leading to the creation of her novel 'The Crucible' (도가니).

The film adaptation was initiated by actor Gong Yoo, who, after reading the novel, suggested it should be made into a movie. This led to the involvement of director Hwang Dong-hyuk, known for the global hit 'Squid Game.' Gong Yoo expressed his mixed emotions, saying he felt both excited and eager to portray the story as an actor. Hwang Dong-hyuk, initially hesitant about directing, ultimately decided to take on the project, wanting to highlight the stark reality of perpetrators receiving light sentences despite the clear distinction between good and evil.

Released in 2011, the film caused a nationwide sensation, igniting public outrage and prompting the police to reopen the investigation into the Inhwa School incident. However, due to the time elapsed since the events, the investigation faced significant challenges. The police sought the expertise of attorney Lee Myung-sook, a specialist in child and women's rights cases, who successfully brought the administrative director back to court despite previous dismissals of the case.

Crucial to this development was the courageous testimony of Park Young-jin, a former student who witnessed the horrific events during his senior year. After watching 'The Crucible,' he stepped forward as a witness, despite having been threatened and assaulted by the administrative director. Although the statute of limitations for the rape charge had expired, the attorney proposed charging the director with a longer statute of limitations for aggravated rape, leading to an eight-year prison sentence for the director.

The emotional toll of the victims was palpable, with actress Byun Jung-soo breaking down in tears and MC Jang Hyun-seong struggling to hold back his own tears, reflecting the audience's sentiments.

As a result of the 'Gwangju Inhwa School Incident,' laws regarding the punishment of sexual violence crimes and social welfare were amended, leading to the closure of Inhwa School and the dissolution of the Woosuk Foundation. Jang Hyun-seong remarked on the collective effort of many individuals, including teachers, parents, interns, writers, actors, producers, directors, witnesses, lawyers, and committee members, in bringing about this change. Byun Jung-soo expressed sadness over the limited ways to show empathy, while Ha Yoon-kyung voiced her desire to remain vigilant against injustices.

The ongoing efforts of the response committee, active for over 20 years, highlight the continued struggles of victims, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Reactions on various online platforms and social media included comments like, "The Crucible is shocking," "The male teacher interviewed was the actor Gong Yoo from the movie," and "Today’s episode of Cocome was incredible. I learned details I never knew before, and it was truly horrifying." Many viewers expressed their desire for more awareness and understanding of the incident, emphasizing the importance of not turning a blind eye to such injustices.