Jeong-in's Adoptive Mother's Acquaintance: "I Advised Against Adoption After Seeing How She Raised Her First Child... She Adopted as If Checking Off a Bucket List"

The appearance of Jeong-in before adoption (left) and after adoption (right). Photo source = SBS 'Unanswered Questions' capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] A friend of Jang, the adoptive mother of 16-month-old Jeong-in who died from abuse, testified, "(Those who saw Jang taking care of her first child) opposed the adoption," adding, "Nevertheless, Jang went ahead with the adoption."

On the 23rd, SBS's 'Unanswered Questions' aired a follow-up episode titled "Jeong-in, I'm Sorry, and the Path Our Anger Must Take," covering the Jeong-in case.

The friend of Jang featured in the broadcast said, "Jang said she disliked being pregnant and disliked children," but "she wanted to give her eldest daughter a sibling of the same gender."

They continued, "However, those who saw her taking care of her first child opposed the adoption," and added, "(Jang) said it had been her dream since she was young, and she pursued it as if fulfilling a bucket list."

The adoptive father, Mr. An, said, "We talked about adoption even before marriage, and my wife was more proactive until the very end," adding, "I actually suggested giving up once or twice, but my wife encouraged me, saying since we decided to adopt, let's bravely do it together."

Experts analyzing these actions said, "Jeong-in was a disposable item to gain praise for having adopted," and "The adoption was driven by a desire to show that they were living a devoted and socially desirable life."

However, regarding suspicions that the adoptive parents adopted the child to receive multi-child benefits in the housing subscription system, experts assessed that there is insufficient evidence.

On the 11th, Jang wrote two handwritten letters of remorse, stating, "I got irritated under the pretext of discipline. If I could go back, I would neither hit nor get angry," and "I left the child without realizing she was sick, and I scared her by hitting the floor with a stick."

She continued, "On the day Jeong-in died, I was so irritated that I hit and shook the child," and said, "I should die, and Jeong-in should live."