"Save me" Suddenly Kneeling While Running Away, Jeong-in's Adoptive Father 'Choking Up'

Yangbu An, who was indicted without detention on charges of abusing Jeong-in, knelt down in front of the press. / Photo by Yonhap News video capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Anmo, the adoptive father who was indicted without detention on charges of abusing the adopted child Jeong-in, was captured on camera kneeling and apologizing.

On the 3rd, when the third trial of the 'Jeong-in case,' in which the child died from abuse, was held, the south entrance of the Seoul Southern District Court building was filled with dozens of citizens waiting for Jeong-in's adoptive father.

However, Anmo seemed to avoid the citizens and came out through the opposite entrance of the court. Upon noticing this, reporters approached Anmo to ask for his stance.

The adoptive father Anmo started running away quickly, and the reporters chased after him while asking questions.

"A close acquaintance testified that 'the child was continuously neglected.' What is your position on this?" "A downstairs neighbor said they heard a 'thud' sound on the day Jeong-in died. What caused that sound?" "Do you have any words for Jeong-in?" The reporters continued questioning, and Anmo repeatedly said only, "I'm sorry. I was wrong," and "Please save me."

When asked again why the 'thud' sound, which the downstairs neighbor heard on the day Jeong-in died, occurred, Anmo replied, "I was at work, so I don't know well."

The reporters then asked whether Anmo had talked with the adoptive mother Jang about the situation at that time.

The adoptive father, who was replying, "I'm sorry. I'm very sorry," suddenly knelt down in front of the reporters. He also appeared to be choking up.

Then Anmo stood up again and hurried away, distancing himself from the reporters.

At the trial that day, acquaintances of the adoptive parents, a downstairs neighbor, and a psychological analyst from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office appeared as witnesses.

During the witness examination, acquaintance A of Jeong-in's parents testified, "The mother Jang neglected Jeong-in without properly taking care of her."

A testified, "Around September last year, I went to a cafe in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province with Jang. The mother Jang left Jeong-in, who was asleep, in the car for over an hour while drinking coffee at the cafe."

He continued, "At a meal, I told them not to feed Jeong-in only plain rice but also meat, but Jang replied, 'Seasoned food is not allowed.'"

A recalled, "When I first met Jeong-in in March last year, she looked as healthy as other children. But when I saw her at the end of August last year, her face was darkened, and there were blotchy bruises on her legs."

Downstairs neighbor B testified that on October 13 last year, when Jeong-in died, "I heard several sounds like dumbbells dropping," and said, "It was a sound completely different from children running around."

B recalled going upstairs to meet Jang directly and said, "(Jang) was crying and said, 'I will tell you later.'"

B added, "Around last year's Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), I heard a woman screaming and sounds like something being thrown. It seemed like a couple's fight, but I did not hear the other party's voice."

Psychological analyst C from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, "Jeong-in's adoptive mother appears to have a high psychopathic tendency," and "The statement that she did not stomp on Jeong-in also seems to be false."