Taekwondo Instructor Faces Life Sentence for Child Abuse Leading to Death

A taekwondo instructor in his 30s has been sentenced to life imprisonment by prosecutors for the abuse and subsequent death of a 4-year-old boy. During a court hearing on March 20, 2025, at the Uijeongbu District Court, the prosecution requested a life sentence for the accused, identified as A, who is facing charges of child abuse resulting in death. The court has combined this case with additional charges of child abuse against A, allowing for a comprehensive review of his actions.

The incident occurred on July 12, 2024, when A allegedly placed the boy, referred to as B, upside down in a mat at his taekwondo studio in Deokgye-dong, Yangju, and left him unattended, leading to the child's death. Following the incident, A reportedly deleted surveillance footage that captured his actions. Investigations revealed that A had physically abused B multiple times before the incident, striking him on the face and body.

Forensic analysis by the police confirmed that A had abused B at least 140 times over a two-month period leading up to the incident. Additionally, A was found to have inflicted physical and emotional abuse on 26 other children, totaling 124 instances of mistreatment.

The sentencing for A is scheduled for April 4, 2025.