Kim, the director of the Colorful Garden facility located in Incheon, has been arrested under allegations of sexually abusing residents with severe disabilities. During police inquiries, he reportedly denied the allegations completely; however, the court deemed it necessary to issue a warrant for his arrest due to concerns over the potential destruction of evidence. On September 19, Judge Nam Se-jin held a preliminary hearing, concluding that there existed a risk of flight and evidence destruction which warranted Kim's detention.

In a separate but related case, another staff member at the Colorful Garden, referred to as A, had an arrest warrant also requested for abuse under the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act. However, this warrant was denied, as A acknowledged parts of the facts, and the judge ruled that the evidence collected to date did not substantiate the need for detention under the given circumstances. Unlike Kim, A’s situation did not present sufficient grounds for the court to deem flight or evidence destruction likely.

The Seoul police department’s special investigation unit on the Colorful Garden case has reportedly identified at least six victims, prompting the arrest request. Despite consistently denying his wrongdoing, Kim’s arrest highlights serious allegations rooted in a power imbalance concerning the vulnerable disabled residents. Advocacy efforts led by legal representatives such as Go Eun-young highlight the gravity of the allegations, underscoring that claims made by the victims of sexual abuse consistently portray a horrific state of affairs that demands thorough investigation and accountability.