After reports that middle school girls sprayed a fire extinguisher and fled from an unmanned internet cafe in Gunsan, North Jeolla, a poster who identified as a parent of one of the perpetrators posted a public apology online. The poster apologized to the victim and the internet cafe owner and said they would compensate for the damage.
On the 7th, a post titled "I am the parent of the middle school girl perpetrator related to JTBC 'Case Chief' coverage. I sincerely apologize" was uploaded to the online community Bobaedream. The poster identified as the parent of one of the two middle school girls involved in the incident reported on JTBC's "Case Chief" on the 5th, in which a fire extinguisher was discharged at an unmanned internet cafe in Gunsan, North Jeolla.
The poster said, "I bow my head in sincere apology to the victim and their family, who suffered indescribable hurt and damage due to my child's wrongful behavior, and to the internet cafe owner who likely faced major business disruption." The poster added, "I will make no excuses for what the child did," and said, "As a parent, I will not evade responsibility and will do my utmost to make restitution and apologize."
The poster explained that they first learned of the child's offense through police who visited the home on the afternoon of the 6th. They asked police for the victim's contact information but were told the case had been transferred to the youth and women affairs unit and they had to wait until a detective was assigned.
They added that they tried to visit the internet cafe in person. The poster said, "I wanted to meet and apologize immediately, even privately, so I went to the front of the internet cafe," but added, "There was no contact information posted outside, and I was told that showing up without prior contact could itself pose another threat or harm to the victim, so I could not bring myself to go any farther."
The poster said that when they went to the front of the internet cafe and could not find contact information, they tried to convey an apology in the Naver Place visitor reviews section. They wrote a post along the lines of, "I asked the officer for the victim's contact information, but was told to wait until a detective is assigned since the case was transferred. It is entirely my child's fault, and I will do my utmost to apologize to the victim and make restitution," but Naver determined it was not a review and has since deleted it.
Earlier, JTBC's "Case Chief" reported on the 5th that two middle school girls entered an internet cafe in Gunsan, North Jeolla, during unmanned operation hours, sprayed a fire extinguisher, and fled. They reportedly discharged the fire extinguisher inside the internet cafe at about 10:40 a.m. on the 2nd.
There were customers inside at the time, and one customer was covered in fire extinguisher powder. The girls also reportedly filmed the scene on a mobile phone. They smoked inside the internet cafe and rifled through the counter, and when caught by staff, they reportedly said something to the effect of "We will bring older boys from the neighborhood."
More than 10 computers at the internet cafe were damaged, and losses are expected to be in the tens of millions of won. The girls are in the second year of middle school and are known to be under 14, making them juveniles under protective disposition. Juveniles under protective disposition are not subject to criminal punishment but can receive protective measures.
In the apology, the poster said, "Separate from punishment, compensation must also be made," and added, "I recognize that compensation is absolutely required." The poster also said they would visit in person to apologize once a detective is assigned and they can reach the victim.