Seo first began living in Saekdongwon, a care home for the intellectually disabled, in 2016.
The institute, located in the city of Incheon, is fully subsidised by the state and still houses some 33 residents, although it has been asked to close down in light of this case.
According to Seo, the abuse began shortly after she began living there, with Kim visiting her at night or in the early hours of the morning to rape her.
Speaking through her lawyer Ko Eun-young, Seo said there was no adult at the facility she could speak to about the abuse, adding that she felt that other staff members would not help her. The care home has not responded to this allegation.
That was her life for almost 10 years, until the case came to light in February 2025, when Seo suffered a head injury.
She said it happened one of the times Kim tried to sexually assault her. She had blocked him with her hands, causing him to throw a glass at her.
Her lawyer told the court that the care home took Seo to hospital and informed her mother about the incident only after the wound on her head had been stitched up.
According to Seo’s lawyer, Seo’s mother had asked to see CCTV footage to establish how her daughter had been injured, but the facility refused, saying they were not authorised to release it.
As a result, her mother brought her home and decided to withdraw her from the facility. It was only after Seo was told that she would not have to return to the home that she disclosed the sexual abuse to her mum, who then reported it to the police.
“I thought it was safe to speak because I was told I didn’t have to go back to Saekdongwon,” Seo told the BBC via her lawyer.
When asked how she had managed on her own for so many years, she said: “I just endured it.”
