Second Trial on the 17th... Held Three Times at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM
Testimonies from Daycare Director, Homeroom Teacher, and Holt Social Worker in Court
On the 17th, when the second trial of the 'Jung-in case,' in which a child died due to abuse by adoptive parents, was held, citizens held a protest demanding punishment for the adoptive parents in front of the Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] "Ordinary parents wouldn’t have done this, but there were many suspicious signs."
Testimonies have been continuously raised that Jeong-in, a 16-month-old infant who died after being abused by adoptive parents, had been subjected to ongoing violence and abuse from the early stages of adoption. As the trial officially began, testimonies in court revealed that the adoptive mother, Jang, had irresponsibly neglected the child for a long period.
The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Shin Hyuk-jae) held the second trial session on the 17th at 10 a.m. for adoptive mother Jang and adoptive father Ahn, who are charged with violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse resulting in death) and other charges.
The trial on that day was divided into three sessions at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. The director of the daycare center Jeong-in attended, a social worker from Holt Children’s Services, and Jeong-in’s homeroom teacher appeared sequentially as witnesses.
Daycare Center Director: "Jeong-in had bruises and wounds all over from the early days of adoption... Emaciated like an African famine victim"
The daycare center director A, who was the first witness at 10 a.m., testified, "From March 2020, when Jeong-in first came to the daycare, wounds were found all over her body."
He said, "At the time of enrollment, Jeong-in was a cheerful and bright child," and "She was growing well for her age without any health problems." He continued, "However, after enrollment, bruises and scratches were continuously found on Jeong-in’s face and arms," and "There were times when she had large bruises on her thighs and abdomen."
Also, A said that when asked about the cause of the wounds, Jang mostly avoided answering, saying she didn’t know, and explained that the bruise on the thigh was caused by 'baby massage.' Unlike her biological older sister, Jeong-in did not attend daycare for about two months from late July, and when asked why Jeong-in was not coming to daycare, Jang replied, "Because of the risk of COVID-19 infection."
A explained, "When Jeong-in returned to daycare after two months, she was unrecognizable," and "She was emaciated like an African famine victim and her legs trembled so badly she could barely stand." He added, "Concerned about the child’s health, I took her to the hospital, and the pediatrician reported suspected abuse," but "Contrary to expectations, Jeong-in was not separated from her family, and instead, the adoptive parents complained without notice that she was taken to the hospital."
Jeong-in’s condition when she visited the daycare on October 12, 2020, the day before her death, was even more serious. CCTV footage showed Jeong-in so weak she could not move on her own. Among the lively children running around, Jeong-in was limp in the teacher’s arms.
A said, "That day, Jeong-in looked as if she had given up on everything," and "She showed no reaction even when given her favorite snacks or toys." He testified, "Her body was thin, but her belly was unusually bloated, and there was a red bruise on her head," and "She couldn’t eat baby food at all and spat it all out."
On the 17th, the day of the second trial of the 'Jung-in case,' in which a child died due to abuse by adoptive parents, citizens are holding a protest demanding punishment for the adoptive parents in front of the Seoul Yangcheon District Court in Nam-gu. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Holt Social Worker: "Adoptive mother seemed irresponsible, unlike typical mothers"
B, a social worker from Holt Children’s Services, said she received a call from Jang in September last year saying the child hadn’t eaten for a week. She said, "Typical parents would take their child to the emergency room if they missed even one meal, but Jang was different," and "She said, 'Even if I try to feel sorry, I don’t feel sorry,' and didn’t take the child to the hospital for over a week."
B said, "I couldn’t understand why someone who said they would raise the child like their own would think that way," and "Usually, mothers would take their child to the hospital for emergency care even late at night if they missed a meal for a day. I thought it was very irresponsible and felt upset."
B continued, "After sending a message from the organization suggesting that the adoptive mother should be checked on the child, Jang’s tone changed and she became hard to contact," and "After that, discussions were mostly through the adoptive father, and a home visit was scheduled for October 15, after Chuseok." Jeong-in died on October 13, two days before the visit, due to a strong impact to her back.
B, who was in charge of post-adoption management at Holt Children’s Services, also testified that after a suspected child abuse report in May related to Jeong-in, she contacted the adoptive parents much more frequently than with other adopted children.
She also said Jang seemed afraid of going to the hospital. When the prosecutor asked, "Did Jang readily agree to take the child to the hospital?" B replied, "She seemed fearful and reluctant to take her to the hospital."
On that day, the prosecution and defense also debated the bruises found on Jeong-in. When Jang’s lawyer asked B, "Did the child usually have many Mongolian spots?" the prosecution objected during cross-examination, saying, "Bruises and Mongolian spots can be easily distinguished, right?"
In response, B said, "Mongolian spots are blue, but what I saw looked like bruises."
Jeong-in’s Homeroom Teacher: "A child who developed faster than others, unrecognizable after two months"
Jeong-in’s homeroom teacher C also testified, "When the child came back to daycare after two months, she was very thin and her skin had turned dark." She added, "Though thin, only her belly was protruding," and "Young children’s gas usually accumulates in the lower abdomen, but Jeong-in’s upper abdomen was rounder and bloated, and it didn’t go down even when pressed."
C said, "Until two months ago, Jeong-in liked to eat, smiled well, and was active," but "When she returned after two months, she just sat blankly and showed no will to do anything."
Testimony also continued that Jeong-in’s condition worsened the day before her death on October 12 last year. C testified, "I was holding Jeong-in then, and she seemed like a child barely breathing."
She added, "I was so worried about whether Jeong-in was breathing all day that I couldn’t do anything else," and tearfully said, "If I had ignored the parents’ opinions and taken her to the hospital then, maybe Jeong-in could have survived."
It is known that Jang did not send Jeong-in to daycare for about two months from mid-July, citing family vacation and the COVID-19 situation.
Regarding this, when the prosecutor asked, "Wasn’t it strange that the older sibling went to daycare but the younger sibling didn’t, even though they lived in the same house?" C replied, "It was a suspicious situation, so I talked with other teachers," and "I couldn’t ask specifically, so there was nothing I could do."
C also testified that Jang’s attitude toward Jeong-in was different from that of ordinary parents. She said, "Usually, children Jeong-in’s age rely on caregivers in unfamiliar environments," but "Unlike other parents, Jang rarely showed signs of holding or comforting Jeong-in."
Also, C said, "Regarding the wounds on Jeong-in’s body, Jang often casually said ‘It’s okay’ and moved on," and "I felt that as a parent, she showed little interest in the child, especially in Jeong-in, the younger sibling, and did not carefully watch over her."
On the 17th, the day of the second trial of the 'Jung-in case,' in which the child died due to abuse by adoptive parents, citizens are holding a protest demanding punishment for the adoptive parents in front of the Seoul Yangcheon District Court in Nam-gu. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
"Adoptive father is also an accomplice to murder, must be detained" Citizens gather again, adoptive father requests personal protection
At around 8 a.m. that day, citizens filled the area in front of the courthouse holding placards demanding severe punishment. About 20 members of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association wore blue raincoats and held signs reading, "The couple who killed Jeong-in deserve the death penalty." They also wore yellow patches on their clothes saying, "Death penalty for adoptive father," and "Detain adoptive father, accomplice to Jeong-in’s murder." Those who could not come to the scene posted photos on social media with phrases like "Sorry, Jeong-in."
Seemingly aware of the public anger, adoptive father Ahn also arrived early at the court that day. Avoiding the citizens gathered at the main gate, Ahn entered the courthouse through the back gate around 9 a.m., escorted by four court security officers for personal protection.
After the trial, which continued until 5 p.m., Ahn left the scene in his own vehicle, and the adoptive mother left in a transport vehicle.
During this process, protesters waiting for Ahn blocked his vehicle and kicked it, causing a commotion. Ahn ignored questions from citizens and reporters and hurriedly ran toward his vehicle.
Then dozens of citizens blocked the vehicle, shouting, "We won’t let you go," and shook the vehicle from side to side. Despite police intervention and sirens, the citizens did not move, and only after police and court staff cleared a path was Ahn able to leave the courthouse.
At the third trial scheduled for the 3rd of next month, three witnesses are expected to appear. Gong Hye-jung, president of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, explained, "We will hold one-person protests not only here but also at courts nationwide," and "We will also protest at the third trial scheduled for the 3rd of next month."
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