The Second Dogani Incident... Incheon City Must Reveal Clear Follow-Up Measures

Incheon City Councillor Shin Chung-sik (Independent·Seo-gu 4) has recently called for a thorough investigation and strong follow-up measures from Incheon City regarding the 'Ganghwa Saekdongwon Sexual Violence Incident', which has shocked the local community.

During the Health and Welfare Bureau's report at the 306th temporary session of the Cultural Welfare Committee held on the 30th of last month, Councillor Shin strongly criticised, stating, "The sexual violence that occurred within welfare facilities is a case where the weakest link in our society has collapsed. As a citizen of Incheon, I cannot help but feel devastated and ashamed."

This incident is a long-term human rights violation occurring within a residential facility for people with disabilities, and criticism has been pouring in from the local political arena and civil society, labelling it as 'the second Dogani incident'. Councillor Shin emphasised that, "Considering the seriousness of the matter, the city authorities must clearly disclose the current investigation status and administrative follow-up measures to the citizens."

In particular, Councillor Shin targeted the issue of 'trust', which is the foundation of welfare administration. He warned, "If the transparency of welfare facility operations and the ethical consciousness of the staff collapse, the entire welfare policy of Incheon City will lose the trust of its citizens," and stated, "At the city council level, we will continuously monitor whether the protection of victims' rights and the investigation process are being thoroughly managed."

Finally, Councillor Shin pointed out the administrative response of 'after-the-fact remedies' and called for structural reforms. He added, "Repeating tragedies cannot be prevented by only responding after the fact," and stated, "This incident should serve as an opportunity to critically reflect on the structural issues of social welfare administration as a whole and to establish effective preventive measures that can operate effectively on the ground."