"The Second Dogani Incident... Incheon City Must Clearly Disclose Follow-Up Measures"

Incheon City Council Member 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' that 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, Shin stated, "The sexual violence that occurred within welfare facilities is a case where the weakest link in our society has collapsed," and expressed, "As a citizen of Incheon, I cannot help but feel devastated and ashamed."

This incident is a long-term human rights violation that occurred within a residential facility for people with disabilities, and criticism has been pouring in from the local political arena and civil society, labeling it as 'The Second Dogani Incident.' Shin emphasized, "Given 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, 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 awareness of 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, Shin pointed out the administrative response of 'after-the-fact remedies' and called for structural reforms. He added, "Repeating tragedies cannot be prevented by just 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."