A shocking case involving a taekwondo master in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, has surfaced following a report aired by JTBC’s “Scandal Supervisor” on October 23. The instructor is alleged to have committed disturbing acts toward multiple elementary school students during classes and overnight camps.

According to one parent whose daughter is a second-grade student and a reported victim, they initially received a text on October 20 stating that due to the instructor’s absence, training could continue at another branch. However, a call from another parent revealed the unsettling truth the instructor had been arrested.

The instructor reportedly blindfolded students during a classroom activity referred to as the “black-and-white game” and then separated some into a private office. The daughter, still too young to grasp the situation fully, believed it was part of a game.

Parents stated that the taekwondo school frequently held overnight camps, during which the instructor continued the alleged misconduct, sometimes even while his own children were present. One mother noted that her daughter began to resist attending the camps after a few trips, a sign she later deeply regretted overlooking.

Other parents also came forward, revealing similar experiences. One fifth-grade student said the abuse began when she was in third grade and continued over time. Some incidents reportedly occurred in the taekwondo school, while others allegedly took place in the instructor’s vehicle.

Shockingly, the abuse wasn’t limited to younger students. Reports suggest that some middle and high school students also witnessed the incidents. One parent claimed the instructor told students he had a rare disorder that caused memory loss during stress episodes, which prevented him from remembering his own actions—an apparent attempt to manipulate them into silence.

Authorities say that the instructor filmed and photographed several of the acts. As of now, multiple victims have been identified in these materials, with differences in clothing indicating that the incidents occurred on multiple occasions.

Police have seized four of the instructor’s phones and are conducting digital forensic analysis. When victims are identified in the recovered footage, their parents are being contacted individually.

Dozens of students, from elementary through high school, attended the taekwondo school, and investigators believe the true scope of the abuse will only become clear after the full investigation concludes.

The instructor was arrested on October 19 and remains in custody. Given the victims’ young ages, police are proceeding cautiously. A spokesperson stated, “We acted on intelligence and are carefully identifying victims and notifying families. Due to the sensitivity of the case, further details cannot be disclosed at this time.”

The case has sparked outrage and concern among parents and communities, prompting calls for stronger oversight and safety measures in extracurricular training centers.

Sources: nate