Prosecutors Add Murder Charge in Jeong-in Case... Foster Parents Deny Intentional Act (Comprehensive)

Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division Requests Indictment Amendment at First Trial
Foster Parents Deny Charges: "I Hit Out of Anger, But Did Not Intend to Kill"
Over 150 Citizens Voluntarily Gathered: "A Just Outcome for the Murderer"

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, was held. Citizens are protesting in front of the Seoul Yangcheon-gu Southern District Court, demanding the application of murder charges. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Junhyung Lee] The adoptive mother accused of abusing 16-month-old adopted daughter Jeongin to death has been charged with murder. The adoptive parents denied the charge, insisting that there was no intent to kill.

On the morning of the 13th, during 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 (Presiding Judge Shin Hyukjae), the prosecution announced it would add a murder charge. To this end, the prosecution requested an amendment to the indictment.

Based on the re-evaluation results by forensic experts the previous day, the investigation team and leadership held lengthy discussions and decided to apply the murder charge to Jang. The prosecution stated it would treat the murder charge as the primary charge and the child abuse resulting in death charge as the alternative charge.

The prosecution explained, "During Jang's detention period, we conducted supplementary investigations using profiling techniques, but due to the occurrence of COVID-19 cases, we were unable to receive the investigation results before indictment. Upon receiving the results, we confirmed significant findings and, after conducting additional investigations with forensic experts, decided to apply for an indictment amendment to make the murder charge the primary charge."

Regarding the reason for the indictment amendment request, the prosecution pointed out, "Despite being aware that the victim's physical condition was poor due to continuous abuse and that strong force should not be applied to the abdomen, Jang violently shook the victim for reasons such as not eating and stomped on the victim's abdomen with her foot, causing the victim to die from pancreatic rupture and intra-abdominal hemorrhage."

In response, the adoptive parents said, "We deeply regret it but had no intention of child abuse," and denied most charges, stating, "We never applied force strong enough to rupture the child's pancreas." However, they admitted to some charges related to injuries such as fractures.

The adoptive parents' lawyer stated, "There was an incident where the victim's back and abdomen were pushed or hit with hands more forcefully than usual while lying down, and out of emotional distress over the child's worsening condition, the arms were shaken, and the victim was dropped due to pain from aftereffects of chest surgery." He added, "We also admit to causing the left clavicle fracture by hitting the head on the floor while changing diapers, as well as fractures of the right 9th rib and left 8th and 9th ribs."

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, was held. Citizens are protesting in front of the Seoul Yangcheon District Court, demanding the application of murder charges. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

According to the Supreme Court sentencing guidelines, the basic sentence for murder without any mitigating motives is imprisonment for 10 to 16 years. If aggravating factors are present, the death penalty can also be imposed. This is a higher sentencing guideline than that for child abuse resulting in death (4 to 7 years basic, 6 to 10 years aggravated).

The prosecution plans to summon some witnesses to prove Jang's charges at the next trial scheduled for February 17.

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 blow to the torso 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 the stroller against elevator walls.

The adoptive father Ahn, who was indicted without detention on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act, 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. It is also known that Ahn requested personal protection measures from the court through his lawyer the day before. Immediately after the trial ended, chaos erupted as citizens shouted insults and gathered around Ahn when he exited the courtroom.

Meanwhile, considering social interest, the trial was conducted simultaneously not only in the main courtroom but also in two relay courtrooms. For the lottery to select 51 trial attendees, 813 people applied, recording a high competition rate of 15.9 to 1.

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 Mo, entered. Attention is focused on whether the prosecution will apply murder charges against the adoptive mother Jang Mo and others in this trial. The Women's and Children's Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jung-woo) arrested and indicted the adoptive mother Jang Mo on December 8 last year on charges including child abuse resulting in death, and indicted the adoptive father Ahn Mo without detention on charges including child abuse. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Before the trial, about 150 citizens, mostly parents raising children of similar age to Jeongin, spontaneously gathered in front of the Seoul Southern District Court in anger over the Jeongin case. They 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 national petition demanding punishment for both adoptive father and mother as accomplices in 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 felt like my own daughter suffered, causing unbearable pain and indescribable anguish. We came here to show that Jeongin is not alone."

As news spread immediately after the trial began that the prosecution requested an indictment amendment to add the murder charge, citizens cheered and shouted slogans like "We will protect you." Some citizens shed tears of joy and relief.

After the first trial ended, when the transport vehicle carrying adoptive mother Jang left the court, some citizens shouted "Jang OO murderer" and threw snowballs at the vehicle. A commotion broke out as angry citizens blocked the transport vehicle demanding Jeongin be saved. Even after the snow-covered vehicle left, citizens remained agitated for some time, with some breaking down in tears.