[Comprehensive] "Accountability Must Be Paid"... Over 200,000 Sign 청원 Demanding Dismissal of Yangcheon Police Chief and Others in 'Jeong-in Incident'

"There's No Law Preventing a Second or Third Jeong-in from Emerging" Demand for Dismissal of Responsible Police Officer
Three Suspected Abuse Reports Last Year Ended with Internal Investigation Closure and Non-Prosecution Recommendations
Police Refer Officers Handling Reports to Disciplinary Committee

On the morning of the 6th, a citizen in front of the Yangcheon Police Station in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, is holding a placard condemning the inadequate initial response to the case of Jeong-in, a girl who died due to abuse by her adoptive parents. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The so-called 'Yangcheon infant abuse case,' in which 16-month-old adopted child Jeongin was abused and ultimately died, has sparked public outrage. A petition on the Blue House website demanding the dismissal of the Yangcheon Police Chief and the officers in charge has surpassed 200,000 signatures.

On the 4th, a petition titled "We demand the dismissal of the Yangcheon Police Chief and officers who neglected child abuse reports" was posted on the national petition board. By 5 p.m. on the 5th, just one day after posting, it had received over 250,000 signatures, meeting the Blue House's response criteria.

The petitioner stated regarding the police, "Despite receiving multiple reports of child abuse, they ignored and neglected them. They invalidated numerous pieces of evidence submitted by mandatory reporters and the strong investigation requests from pediatric specialists. We want to hold them accountable for this." They added, "In 2021, there is no law preventing a second or third Jeongin from appearing in South Korea. Will the police and related agencies just stand by again?"

A petition posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 4th demanding the dismissal of the police officer in charge of the Yangcheon child abuse case. / Photo by National Petition Board capture

Jeongin passed away on October 13 last year at a hospital in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. This occurred 271 days after being adopted by her foster parents.

At 16 months old, Jeongin had suffered severe damage to major organs, including a severed pancreas, and fractures in both arms, clavicles, and legs at the time of her death.

The foster parents claimed that Jeongin's condition was due to an accident, saying she fell while playing on the sofa. However, police investigations revealed that since adopting her in January, they had repeatedly neglected, abandoned, and abused her.

Notably, there were three suspected abuse reports in May, June, and September last year, but the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul closed the cases as investigations or forwarded them to the prosecution with non-prosecution opinions, citing lack of evidence of abuse, which sparked controversy over inadequate investigations.

A condolence wreath mourning the death of Jung-in, a girl who died due to abuse by her adoptive parents, is placed in front of the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 6th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Some citizens posted messages on the Yangcheon Police Station's website bulletin board condemning the police response to the suspected abuse reports, saying things like "Acknowledge your responsibility," "Are you even qualified to sit in that position?" and "How could you ignore it not once but three times?"

Some civic groups also filed charges against the Yangcheon Police Chief for dereliction of duty.

The Committee for the Protection of the Common People reported on the 6th that they filed charges against Lee Hwasub, Yangcheon Police Chief, at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office for dereliction of duty, stating, "Despite receiving three suspected abuse reports from experts such as daycare teachers and doctors, he neglected his responsibilities and ignored them." They added, "Lee Hwasub, the highest-ranking official at Yangcheon Police who covered up Jeongin's abuse, is avoiding responsibility rather than making an official apology and working on system improvements."

Amid growing controversy, multiple media outlets reported that the police issued 'warnings' or 'cautions' to seven people, including the team leader responsible for the second report case. Additionally, five people, including the team leader handling the third report case and two Abuse Prevention Officers (APOs), have been referred to the disciplinary committee.

Meanwhile, the foster mother was indicted last December on charges of habitual assault and abuse resulting in Jeongin's death (child abuse homicide). The foster father was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act by neglecting the abuse despite knowing about it.