{
  "id": 19309095,
  "title": "Korean parents enlist ghosts to discipline kids, sparking child abuse complaints",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/korean-parents-enlist-ghosts-to-discipline-kids-sparking-child-abuse",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-10T08:47:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261110/korean-parents-enlist-ghosts-to-discipline-kids-sparking-child-abuse-complaints"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A controversial attraction at the Korean Folk Village has sparked child abuse complaints, prompting the local government to investigate. The so-called \"ghost discipline\" event, where actors dressed as traditional Korean ghosts scold misbehaving children, has gained popularity through word of mouth. However, the experience has come under scrutiny, with child welfare experts and police set to visit the attraction later this month. Yongin City, in Gyeonggi Province, plans to examine how the event is operated and whether it constitutes abuse. Critics argue that parents should be held responsible for their children's experience at the attraction, rather than the folk village itself. The event features ghosts such as the nine-tailed fox and the virgin ghost, but the \"ghost discipline\" segment has drawn particular ire for potentially exposing children to abusive behavior.",
  "summary": "A popular attraction at the Korean Folk Village, where actors dressed as ghosts discipline misbehaving children, has come under scrutiny after complaints prompted the local government to consider investigating possible child abuse. The move has instead sparked controversy, with many online commenters arguing that parents who bring their children to the attraction, rather than the folk village…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Ghost discipline\" event at Korean Folk Village sparks child abuse complaints",
    "Local government to investigate attraction and its operations",
    "Critics argue parents should be held responsible for children's experience"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Using traditional folklore to enforce behavioral compliance blurs the line between cultural entertainment and psychological harm, forcing local authorities to determine where parental guidance ends and institutional abuse begins.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}