Stepmother Detained for Locking Stepson in Travel Bag for Over 7 Hours After Lying About Game Console Malfunction

Violation of Child Abuse Punishment Act... Son Unconscious for Three Days
Police Investigate Case Details Including Habitual Abuse

The stepmother who confined her stepson in a travel bag, causing him to suffer cardiac arrest, is entering the Cheonan branch of Daejeon District Court on the 3rd for a warrant hearing. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] A woman in her 40s who locked her stepson in a travel bag for 7 hours, causing cardiac arrest, has been arrested on charges of child abuse.

The Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court (Judge Lee Minyoung, in charge of warrants) conducted a warrant hearing on the 3rd for B (43), the stepmother of A (9), on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (Child Abuse Punishment Act), and issued an arrest warrant.

The court explained the reason for issuing the arrest warrant, stating, "Considering the seriousness of the case, there is a concern of evidence destruction and flight."

B is accused of abusing A by locking him in a travel bag at their residence in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, on the 1st.

At around 7:25 p.m. that day, B called 119 emergency services, reporting, "My son is not breathing," and the 119 paramedics who arrived at the scene transported A, who was in cardiac arrest, to a nearby university hospital.

A is receiving inpatient treatment but has not regained consciousness even after three days and remains dependent on a ventilator.

Subsequently, hospital medical staff who examined A suspected child abuse by B and reported it to the police, leading to an investigation.

According to the investigation by the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency, it was confirmed that A was confined in a travel bag for more than 7 hours.

On the evening of the 1st, stepson A was being transferred to the hospital. / Photo by Yonhap News

It was initially understood that B put A into a bag measuring 50 cm wide by 70 cm long, but after A defecated inside the bag, he was confined in a smaller bag measuring 44 cm wide by 60 cm long. A was found in cardiac arrest inside the second bag.

Additionally, analysis of elevator CCTV footage by the police revealed that B left A inside the bag unattended for 3 hours and even went out.

During the police investigation, B admitted to part of the crime but stated that the reason for locking A in the bag was "as a form of discipline because he lied about breaking a game console."

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that A had received hospital treatment for a head injury last month. At that time, bruises and wounds were found on A’s body, indicating signs of child abuse, and B was questioned by the police.

The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the case, including whether B habitually abused A.