Prosecutors Apply Murder Charges to Jeong-in Case Stepmother... Citizens Shed Tears of Relief

Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division Requests Indictment Amendment at First Trial
About 150 Voluntary Citizens Say "It's a Natural Consequence for the Murderer"

On the 13th, the first trial of the adoptive parents accused of continuously abusing 16-month-old Jeong In-yang, leading to her death, was held. At the main gate of the Seoul Yangcheon District Court, citizens continued their protest in an agitated state as a transport vehicle, presumed to be carrying the adoptive mother Jang, entered. Attention is focused on whether the prosecution will apply murder charges to the adoptive mother Jang and others during this trial. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office's Women and Child Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jung-woo) arrested and indicted the adoptive mother Jang on December 8 last year on charges including child abuse resulting in death, and indicted the adoptive father Ahn without detention on charges including child abuse. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Junhyung Lee] The adoptive mother accused of abusing 16-month-old adopted girl Jeongin to death has been charged with murder.

On the morning of the 13th, the prosecution announced at the first trial of the adoptive mother Jang, who is accused of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse resulting in death) at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 13 (Chief Judge Shin Hyukjae), that they would add a murder charge. To this end, the prosecution requested an amendment to the indictment. The investigation team and the command decided this after long discussions based on the re-evaluation results by forensic experts the day before.

Adoptive mother Jang was arrested and indicted on charges of habitual assault and abuse of her adopted daughter Jeongin from June to October last year, and for delivering a strong impact to Jeongin’s back and other areas on October 13 of the same year, causing her death. She is also accused of emotionally abusing Jeongin by leaving her alone at home or in a car 15 times from March to October last year, or forcefully pushing a stroller against the elevator wall.

The adoptive father Ahn, who was not detained, reportedly arrived early at the court with his lawyer around 8 a.m. that day. It appears he felt burdened by media exposure amid growing public outrage. Ahn was previously indicted without detention for violating the Child Welfare Act, as he was aware of Jang’s abuse and Jeongin’s deteriorating health but took no significant action.

Considering social interest, the trial was held simultaneously not only in the main courtroom but also in two relay courtrooms. For the lottery of 51 trial attendance tickets, 813 people applied, recording a high competition rate of 15.9 to 1. Before the trial, citizens angry about the Jeongin case voluntarily gathered in front of the Seoul Southern District Court.

On the 13th, the first trial for the adoptive parents accused of abusing and causing the death of their 16-month-old adopted daughter, Jeong In-yang, was held. Citizens are protesting in front of the Seoul Yangcheon District Court South Branch, urging for the application of murder charges. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

About 150 parents, most raising children of similar age to Jeongin, wore masks with the red word "Death Penalty" and poured criticism on the adoptive parents. Dozens of condolence wreaths urging punishment for the adoptive parents were lined up. Additionally, a Blue House petition demanding punishment for both adoptive father and mother as accomplices to murder gained over 200,000 signatures, meeting the response threshold.

So-young Lee (38) and Sori Han (40), holding a photo of Jeongin and a placard saying "I Saw the Devil," said, "Because our children are about the same age, it feels like my daughter suffered this, causing unbearable pain and indescribable anguish. We came here to show that Jeongin is not alone."

As news spread shortly after the trial began that the prosecution requested an amendment to add a murder charge, citizens cheered and shouted slogans like "We will protect you." Some citizens shed tears of joy and relief. So-young Lee (55), who came from Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province to the Seoul Southern District Court, said, "It is only natural that the murder charge is applied," but also expressed, "It is sad and almost incomprehensible that I feel so moved." Hyejung Gong, president of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, urged, "Everyone gathered voluntarily out of anger at the horrific abuse. We hope the court imposes severe punishment."