Key Summary
- Korean Folk Village in Yongin said its “ghost discipline” program will run until the 15th, the final day of its nighttime opening period.
- The venue denied that the schedule was shortened because of recent child abuse allegations.
- Yongin city officials visited the site on the 9th, inspected how the program was being run, and provided guidance on the legal scope of child abuse.
- The program had been operated with prior parental applications and was described by the venue as ending according to its original plan.
Main Story
Korean Folk Village, located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, said on the 12th that its “ghost discipline” program will continue through the 15th, which is the last day of its nighttime opening schedule.
The venue said the program was always intended to operate only from September 12 through October 15, rejecting claims that it was being shut down early because of public criticism. The attraction had been run with advance applications from parents.
According to the venue’s explanation, the activity involved a staff member in ghost makeup posing for photos with families, while parents described habits they wanted their children to improve, such as not eating properly. The staff member would then respond with remarks such as that children should not avoid meals.
Controversy arose after a recent visitor reported the site to police, saying children appeared to be severely frightened and raising allegations including child abuse. In response, Yongin city officials visited the attraction on the 9th, checked how the program was being operated, and explained the boundaries of child abuse.
A Korean Folk Village official said the program was conducted with parental request and consent and that staff followed internal guidelines, including stopping immediately if a child became too frightened.
Background
The supplied text indicates that the program was a temporary nighttime attraction operated under a set schedule, but it does not provide additional background on its origin, broader purpose, or any prior disputes.
Items Requiring Further Verification
- The police report referenced by the visitor is described only in general terms, and the status or outcome of any investigation is not provided.
- The claim that the program was within internal guidelines comes from the venue’s own explanation and is not independently confirmed in the text.
- The nature and legal assessment of the alleged child abuse remain unresolved in the supplied article.