Joo Ho-min Opens Up About Feelings After Lawsuit Against Special Education Teacher

Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min revealed his change in feelings following the lawsuit against a special education teacher through the YouTube channel 'SPNS TV'. He conveyed his complex emotions at the time, likening the difficult period he described as 'rock bottom' to the five stages of grief.

Joo Ho-min stated that after news regarding his child was reported in July 2023, he became known as a 'bully parent,' leading to a decrease in broadcasting activities and making him a difficult person to mention. He explained that he experienced the situation through the five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. He mentioned that as the case was covered by media and YouTube, it escalated to an unmanageable level, and he felt compelled to shrink back due to the negative perception surrounding him. During this process, he also expressed his anger towards his family.

Joo Ho-min added that he is currently going through the depression and acceptance stages, and is seeking what he can do amidst being viewed as a 'bad guy,' 'weird guy,' and so on. He also mentioned his intention to sublimate the experience into his work once the case is concluded. Joo Ho-min emphasized that because the ongoing case is not yet finished, he always has the thought of turning this experience into a piece of work someday.

In September 2022, Joo Ho-min sued a special education teacher, identified as Ms. A, at the elementary school his son attended, on charges of child abuse. Joo Ho-min's side claimed that Ms. A made statements that constituted emotional abuse towards his son. Ms. A, who had received a suspended sentence in the first trial, was acquitted in the appellate trial. The court ruled that the recording device hidden in the child's clothing posed a problem under the Protection of Communications Secrets Act, making the recording inadmissible as evidence. The prosecution has currently appealed the appellate court's ruling.