Executive at Government-Certified Workplace for People with Disabilities Investigated for Sexual Assault Resulting in Childbirth

[Anchor]

There are companies certified by the government as safe workplaces for people with disabilities, who face difficulties finding employment, granting them tax benefits and other perks. However, police have launched an investigation following a report that a female employee with an intellectual disability at one such company was sexually assaulted by a company executive in his 60s, resulting in childbirth.

Reporter Je Hui-won brings us this exclusive report.

[Reporter]

Two years ago, 29-year-old Kim, who has a grade 2 intellectual disability, was employed at a laundry company in Incheon.

It was a job arranged by the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities, which certified the company as a "standard workplace for workers with disabilities."

However, in March of this year, Kim's father, who wanted to buy spring clothes for his daughter, noticed her unusually distended stomach and took her to the hospital, where he only then learned of her pregnancy.

Kim, who was at full term, gave birth via Caesarean section in late April. Kim's social age—with her severe grade 2 intellectual disability—is around the level of a 7-year-old, and her ability to express preferences such as liking or disliking something is around the level of a 4-year-old.

Police, who launched an investigation after receiving a report of sexual violence, confirmed that the DNA of the child matches that of Lee, an executive in his 60s at the laundry company where Kim works.

[Victim's Father: I started making inquiries while taking the child with me. I thought it might be someone close... Even now, when I think of June 9 (the day the perpetrator was identified), my body trembles with rage.]

It was revealed that Lee sexually assaulted the victim again early last month, just over a month after her childbirth and right before he was identified as the perpetrator.

[Victim's Father (Phone recording provided by the victim): How could you take my child and do that even after she gave birth?]

[Perpetrator Lee: I am not denying it. I admit to all of it.]

It was also found that Lee had previously attempted to destroy evidence, such as taking Kim to an obstetrician and gynecologist late last year to attempt an abortion and replacing Kim's mobile phone with his own second-hand phone.

Lee is known to have admitted to dozens of instances of sexual relations while denying the charges on the grounds that the relations were consensual.

Kim's father, who lived alone with his daughter, quit his job earlier this month and is now caring for the newborn.

[Kim Hwan-seop / Victim's Attorney: Just seeing the victim trying to get through her daily life is truly infuriating. Given that he appears to be evading even the minimum level of moral responsibility, prompt compulsory investigation seems necessary.]

The police plan to request an arrest warrant for Lee soon on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.

(Video Editing: Choi Hye-ran, Design: Cho Su-in, Han Song-yeon, VJ: Noh Jae-min)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.