In a recent case of school violence in Torrance 30 years ago, which has been referred to as “LA’s version of Netflix’s The Glory”, the alleged victim reported five perpetrators to the police. The intensifying situation has raised the possibility of legal charges against the alleged assailants.
The case first started when a Korean-American woman came forward to expose her abuse and severe school violence from other Korean-American students in high school in Torrance in the 1990s.
Related Article: ‘LA’s version of Netflix’s The Glory’ shakes Korean-American community 30 years later
On September 2, the anonymous user claimed to be the victim posted on the online community website for Korean Americans, MissyUSA, that she went to the police station and filed a report.
In previous posts, she claimed to be suffering from severe after-effects and trauma, even committing suicide attempts until recently after being subjected to extreme school violence, including kidnapping, confinement, assault, and death threats. The alleged perpetrators were five older female Korean-American students at West High School in Torrance, where a large number of Korean-American students were enrolled in the mid-1990s.
In her post, the alleged victim said she and her husband went to the police station that day and spoke with an investigator.
According to the post, the investigator told her that this was not a simple assault, pointing out the seriousness of the incident and that he would look into possible charges.
“I was extremely nervous going to the police station, and I was shaking behind my husband because I couldn’t stop crying,” she said.
“I was stupid to think that they (the perpetrators) would say ‘I’m sorry’ when they read the posts,” she said, implying that she has yet to receive an apology or contact from them.
The anonymous user also expressed her gratitude for the support she received, saying she found courage and comfort in it.
Meanwhile, as the victim’s post continues to gain attention, testimonies from people who claim to be alumni have also come forward.
One alumnus, who identified herself as a student at West High School in the 1990s with a student card and student handbook, said on MissyUSA that she was close to the victim and another friend of her during their school years and heard about the incident firsthand.
“(One day) they didn’t come to school together for two weeks,“ she recalled, “and I remember sitting down and talking to them afterward, and they said, ’I was surprised to see each other’s faces after it (the assault) was over, swollen up like balloons,’” she said.
“Their photos revealed on MissyUSA are familiar to me because they found and showed them in the yearbook,” she said, adding, ”I’m cautious in a lot of ways, but if they need me to testify, I’m willing to help.”
Another woman, who identified herself as an alumna, told the Korea Daily in a phone interview, “There were rumors among students at the time about assaults at the graduation party. “I heard that the victims were kidnapped and dragged in the trunk of a car and beaten for four hours,” she said, adding, ”I know that the victims were harassed by people who were jealous of her pretty face.
The Korea Daily reached out to the alleged perpetrators to get their side of the story but was unable to reach them.
Meanwhile, the story has been spreading quickly and drawing outrage among Korean Americans. The identities of all five alleged perpetrators surnamed Kim, Kang, Chun, Oh, and Yoon, were posted on social media on the date of the scandal.
Some users reportedly went as far as asking private detectives to locate Kang, who is believed to be living in South Korea. Korean Americans are also taking an active role in the case, with some suggesting that petitions be submitted to local politicians to demand that the assailants be punished.
BY SUAH JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
