Ju Ho-min advocates for recording exceptions to protect disabled children

Webtoon artist Ju Ho-min and ten disability rights organizations held a press conference in front of the Supreme Court of Korea to advocate for legal exceptions regarding third-party recordings. The group is calling for recordings made by guardians to be admissible as evidence in cases of suspected abuse against children and individuals with developmental disabilities who cannot easily testify or provide evidence themselves.

The movement stems from a legal battle involving Ju’s son, who has autism. In 2022, Ju sued a special education teacher for emotional abuse after recording remarks made to the child. While a lower court accepted the recording as evidence and issued a suspended fine, an appellate court overturned the ruling, declaring the recording inadmissible under the Protection of Communications Secrets Act because it involved a third party recording a conversation between others.

Advocates argue that in closed environments like special education classrooms, where CCTV and witnesses are often absent, such recordings are essential for protecting vulnerable individuals. Following the press conference, a petition signed by approximately 24,000 citizens was submitted to the Supreme Court, which is currently awaiting a final decision on the case.