這起發生在韓國仁川廣域市江華郡的「色洞院」（Saekdongwon）性侵與制度失靈案件，因情節與2011年揭露韓國福利體系黑暗面的電影《熔爐》高度相似，迅速在韓國社會引發巨大震撼，並被多家主流媒體形容為「仁川版熔爐事件」。案件曝光後，不僅揭開長期被忽視的弱勢群體受害真相，也再次引爆外界對韓國社會福利監管體制的強烈質疑。

根據目前警方與檢方掌握的調查結果，主要嫌疑人為年約60多歲的色洞院院長金某。該名院長被指控在長達多年期間，利用自己在福利機構內的絕對權力地位，對多名女性住戶實施性暴力與性侵害行為。經確認的受害者共有19人，其中17人為當時仍居住在機構內的女性，另有2人則是在退宿後才鼓起勇氣出面指證。這些受害者的年齡分布介於30歲至60歲之間，且全部為中度至重度智力障礙者，屬於在法律與現實層面都極度弱勢的族群。

調查顯示，金某長期以「照顧者」與「家長」的身分自居，甚至要求院內女性稱呼他為「爸爸」，藉此營造扭曲的依附關係，進一步削弱受害者的反抗能力。在多起案件中，他不僅以言語恐嚇方式迫使受害者順從，還曾動用兇器進行威脅，聲稱「就算告訴父母，也不會有人把你接走」，直接擊潰受害者對外界救援的最後期待。警方認定，這類長期心理操控與恐嚇，是導致犯罪得以持續多年未被揭發的關鍵原因之一。

除了性犯罪行為外，金某同時被懷疑涉及經濟層面的不法行為。檢方指出，色洞院每年可領取約20至30億韓元的政府補貼，理應用於照護殘障人士的生活、醫療與復健需求，但實際上卻存在挪用補助款、侵佔住戶個人財產等情形。這使案件不再只是單一的性侵事件，而是延伸為結構性腐敗與制度縱容的重大社會問題。

在案件曝光後，首爾地方警察廳已成立約70人規模的專案調查小組，全面介入此案。金某已於2026年2月4日接受第二次傳喚調查，並被列為重點嫌疑人，目前已遭到限制出境，以防其逃離韓國或干擾後續調查。警方也在1月底對色洞院進行突擊搜查，第一時間將院內所有女性住戶轉移至安全地點，並交由其他機構與專業人員進行臨時安置與心理輔導。

值得注意的是，調查單位在清查過程中發現，該機構內可能不僅存在針對女性的性侵行為，也不排除有男性殘障人士遭受身體或心理虐待的情況。目前警方正擴大訪談範圍，重新檢視歷年評鑑紀錄、補助金流向與人員管理制度，以釐清是否還有其他未曝光的受害者。

此案在韓國社會引發的憤怒，已遠遠超過對單一犯罪者的譴責。輿論普遍質疑，為何一間長期領取高額政府補助、理應受到定期稽核與評鑑的福利機構，能在多年內發生如此大規模且系統性的性侵行為卻無人察覺。不少評論直指，現行福利監管制度過度仰賴書面審查與形式化評鑑，對實際照護現場缺乏有效監督，最終讓權力集中於少數管理者手中，成為滋生犯罪的溫床。

隨著調查持續深入，「仁川版熔爐事件」已成為韓國社會再次正視殘障者人權、福利機構透明化與監管改革的重要轉捩點。許多民間團體呼籲，不能只將事件視為個案處理，而應徹底檢討整體制度，避免類似悲劇在看不見的角落一再重演。

The case involving the welfare facility “Saekdongwon” in Ganghwa County, Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea, has shocked the nation due to its striking resemblance to the 2011 film Silenced (The Crucible), which exposed deep-seated abuses within Korea’s social welfare system. As a result, Korean media have dubbed the incident the “Incheon version of the Crucible case.” Beyond the individual crimes themselves, the case has reignited widespread public outrage over systemic failures in the supervision of welfare institutions and the long-term neglect of the rights of people with disabilities.

According to findings currently confirmed by police and prosecutors, the primary suspect is Kim, a man in his 60s who served as the director of Saekdongwon. He is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting and raping female residents over a period spanning several years, abusing the absolute authority he wielded within the institution. A total of 19 victims have been identified so far, including 17 women who were residing at the facility at the time of the alleged crimes and two former residents who came forward only after leaving the institution. The victims range in age from their 30s to their 60s, and all are individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, placing them among the most vulnerable members of society both legally and socially.

Investigators revealed that Kim deliberately positioned himself as a parental figure within the institution, requiring female residents to call him “father” and fostering a deeply distorted dependency relationship. This manipulation significantly weakened the victims’ ability to resist or seek help. In multiple cases, Kim allegedly used verbal intimidation to force compliance and, at times, even threatened victims with weapons. He reportedly told them that “even if you tell your parents, no one will come to take you home,” effectively crushing their hope of external rescue. Police believe that this sustained psychological control and intimidation was a key factor allowing the abuse to continue undetected for so many years.

In addition to the sexual crimes, Kim is also suspected of serious financial misconduct. Prosecutors stated that Saekdongwon received between 2 and 3 billion won in government subsidies annually, funds intended to support the daily living, medical care, and rehabilitation of residents with disabilities. However, evidence suggests that portions of these subsidies were misappropriated, and that residents’ personal assets were unlawfully taken. As a result, the case has expanded beyond sexual violence into a broader investigation of structural corruption and institutional abuse.

Following the exposure of the case, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency established a special task force of approximately 70 investigators to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. Kim was summoned for a second round of questioning on February 4, 2026, and has since been placed under a travel ban to prevent him from fleeing the country or interfering with the investigation. In late January, police conducted a surprise raid on the facility and immediately relocated all female residents to secure locations, where they are now receiving temporary housing, protection, and psychological support from professional care providers.

Notably, investigators have indicated that abuse at the facility may not have been limited to female residents. Authorities are currently examining the possibility that male residents with disabilities may also have suffered physical or psychological abuse. The investigative team is expanding witness interviews and reexamining past inspection records, subsidy fund flows, and internal management practices to determine whether additional victims remain unidentified.

Public anger surrounding the case has extended far beyond condemnation of the individual perpetrator. Widespread criticism has been directed at the welfare oversight system itself, with many questioning how an institution receiving substantial government funding and subject to routine evaluations could have allowed such large-scale, systematic abuse to persist for years without detection. Commentators argue that the current regulatory framework relies too heavily on formal documentation and superficial assessments, while failing to adequately monitor real conditions on the ground. This concentration of unchecked power in the hands of a single administrator, critics warn, creates fertile ground for abuse.

As the investigation continues, the “Incheon Crucible case” has become a pivotal moment for South Korean society to reexamine disability rights, institutional transparency, and the effectiveness of welfare oversight. Civil advocacy groups emphasize that the incident must not be treated as an isolated case, but rather as a catalyst for comprehensive reform, to ensure that similar tragedies do not continue to unfold in unseen corners of society.