Public Opinion Turns Cold Toward Lawyer Who Says "Trusts Jeong-in's Adoptive Parents"

Jung-in's Adoptive Parents' Lawyer "Believes" Denies Charges
"Defend What Should Be Defended" Public Criticism
Bar Association "Every Citizen Has the Right to Legal Counsel"

On the 13th, the first trial of the adoptive parents accused of continuously abusing 16-month-old Jeong-in, leading to her death, was held. At the main gate of the Seoul Yangcheon District Court in Nam-gu, citizens continued their protest in an agitated state as a vehicle, presumed to be carrying the adoptive mother Jang Mo, entered./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] The first trial of the adoptive parents of Jeong-in, an adopted child who died from abuse after 16 months, was held on the 13th, and criticism is growing over the adoptive parents' defense attorney saying, "I believe in the defendant (the adoptive mother)."

The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Shin Hyuk-jae) conducted the first trial of the adoptive mother, Jang, who was detained and indicted on charges including child abuse resulting in death. The adoptive father, Ahn, who was indicted without detention on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act (child abuse), also stood trial.

In front of the Seoul Southern District Court that day, numerous citizens gathered from organizations such as the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association held a placard protest demanding strict punishment for Jeong-in's adoptive parents. Protesters wore white masks with the word "Death Penalty" written in red letters and held placards with phrases such as "We are Jeong-in's mom and dad" and "Murder charge, death penalty."

On the 13th, when the first trial of Jeong-in's adoptive parents was held at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, the adoptive parents' lawyer, who finished the first hearing, is answering questions from the press. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

After the trial, Jeong Hee-won, the defense attorney representing them, partially admitted to the abuse but denied the charge that it was intentional to cause death.

Attorney Jeong said, "I don't think the defendant intentionally hit her," and added, "I believe in her. She denies child abuse resulting in death, so how could she admit to the added murder charge?"

He continued, "I empathize with why you are angry, and we feel the same way. Still, it is our position to uncover the truth." In court that day, he defended Jang by explaining, "It was not intentional to cause death. There was no strong blunt force trauma to the extent of organ damage."

Photo by Online Community Capture

This led to a flood of criticism over Attorney Jeong's statements, which denied the charges outright rather than admitting guilt and seeking leniency.

On online communities and social media platforms, reactions such as "On the side of the murderer," "Not even a public defender, is money more important than Jeong-in?" and "What are morality and justice to you?" sparked public outrage. After the trial, posts like "Jeong-in's lawyer, defend what should be defended" appeared on the Blue House discussion board.

A 27-year-old office worker, Mr. A, said, "I still tear up whenever I see news about Jeong-in smiling so beautifully, but hearing the defense so confidently deny the charges makes me feel very frustrated. The adoptive parents must pay the proper price, and the lawyer should rather admit guilt and seek leniency for that, but this feels wrong," expressing his anger.

Especially on online communities, criticism intensified as posts circulated stating, "Jeong-in's adoptive parents' lawyer is also defending the stepmother in the Cheonan case where a stepson was killed." The "Cheonan Stepmother Suitcase Abuse Case" involved a stepmother who confined her 9-year-old stepson in a travel suitcase for seven hours, causing hypoxic brain injury and death last June. Attorney Jeong, who is defending in the current case, has been confirmed to be the same lawyer who defended the stepmother in the Cheonan suitcase abuse case.

On the morning of the 13th, a photo of Jeong-in, who died at 16 months old due to abuse by her adoptive parents, was placed at Hi Family Andersen Park Cemetery in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, in the legal community, concerns have been raised about the criticism directed at lawyers, emphasizing that even the most heinous criminals have the constitutional right to legal counsel.

According to Article 16, Paragraph 1 of the Attorney Ethics Code, "A lawyer cannot refuse to defend a case solely because the content of the case is socially condemned." However, if a lawyer refuses to take a case, a public defender can assist in the defense.

Previously, in July last year, lawyer Jang Sung-geun, who was selected as a candidate for the head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, resigned from the recommendation committee after controversy arose over his defense of Cho Ju-bin in the "Nth Room" case.

In response, the Korean Bar Association (KBA) issued a statement titled "Even murderers have the right to legal counsel," saying, "A lawyer feeling pressured by public opinion to resign from defending a case leads to infringement of the public's right to a fair trial." The KBA further stated, "Our constitution guarantees all citizens the right to legal counsel during investigation and trial," and expressed serious concern about the social atmosphere of judging lawyers based on the cases they handle.