In a recent development, a special education instructor who was previously convicted of emotionally mistreating the child of webtoon artist and TV personality Joo Ho Min has been acquitted upon appeal.

On May 13, the Criminal Appeals Division 6-2 of the Suwon District Court reversed the initial decision and declared the teacher, known as A, innocent of breaching the Child Welfare Act and the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act.

The teacher was initially sentenced to a 2 million KRW fine, but the appeals court overturned this judgment after determining that a secret recording, which was a crucial piece of evidence, could not be considered in court due to it violating Korea's Protection of Communications Secrets Act.

The disputed recording was made by Joo's wife, who concealed a device in their son's attire. It captured A expressing, "You have terrible manners. I hate you. I really do," to the child. The prosecution argued that this amounted to emotional abuse, particularly considering the child's autism.

A, who was charged in 2022, appealed the initial decision, voicing concerns that it might deter other educators, particularly special education personnel, from fulfilling their responsibilities.

In the wake of the not-guilty verdict, Joo Ho Min made a brief statement expressing his disappointment but also acknowledging and respecting the court's ruling.