"Annoyed" and "Kept Crying"... Cruel Parents Abusing Infants

'Jeongin Case' Stepmother Admits Abuse in Trial
"I Was Annoyed and Stressed, So I Treated Her Harshly"
Hit Infant's Head for Crying, Causing Death
"Unfit to Be a Parent," "Must Be Severely Punished," Public Outrage

On the afternoon of the 7th, when the 5th trial of the adoptive parents accused of abusing and causing the death of their 16-month-old adopted daughter Jeong-in was held, a citizen was holding a portrait of Jeong-in at the entrance of Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, urging strict punishment for the adoptive parents. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Social outrage is growing over the 'cruel parents' who abused their own children to death simply because they were in a bad mood. In particular, these individuals have been found to use brutal methods of violence, such as hitting and mutilating the body parts of infants who could barely support themselves, which has intensified public anger. Experts have advised expanding the number of specialists handling child abuse issues and reforming the child protection system.

According to multiple media reports on the 14th, the prosecution demanded the death penalty, the highest sentence in court, for Jang, the adoptive mother involved in the so-called 'Jung-in case,' who continuously abused a 16-month-old adopted child to death.

At the sentencing trial for Jang's charges of murder and violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse resulting in death) held at the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Sang-ju), the prosecution stated, "No reason can justify infringing on a person's life," and explained the reason for the demand, saying, "The defendant had a duty to restore the victim's health but committed an inhumane crime by abusing the victim for a long time without any particular reason, leading to death."

During the trial that day, Jang admitted to abusing the child due to irritation and stress. She tearfully said, "When I was irritated or in a bad mood, I treated the child roughly. I am sorry and I was wrong."

She also said, "I thought the child was resisting because she didn't eat the food I worked hard to prepare," and "I had accumulated stress, and I was worried that a report of abuse might be made."

On the afternoon of the 14th, during the sentencing hearing for the adoptive parents accused of abusing and causing the death of their 16-month-old adopted daughter, Jeong-in, citizens at the entrance of Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, held signs in protest toward the transport vehicle believed to be carrying the adoptive mother. / Photo by Yonhap News

This case came to light when 16-month-old infant Jung-in died at a hospital in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on October 13 last year. It happened 271 days after Jung-in was adopted by the adoptive parents.

At the time of death, Jung-in's abdomen was filled with blood, and some organs were damaged, showing severe physical injuries. Jang and Ahn claimed that Jung-in's condition was due to an accident, saying, "She fell while playing on the sofa," but police investigations confirmed that they had habitually neglected, abandoned, and assaulted Jung-in since adopting her.

This is not the first case of infant abuse caused by stress. Earlier in February, in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, a single father named Kim was tried on charges of assaulting and killing his newborn daughter who was less than a month old, sparking significant social outrage.

Kim was accused of hitting his daughter's head with a hand wearing a ring on January 2, causing her death. Due to Kim's violence, the daughter, who was only 29 days old at the time, ultimately died from a brain hemorrhage.

During the police investigation, Kim initially denied the charges, claiming, "The baby was injured when a mobile fell," but as the investigation continued, he admitted, "I hit her head because she was crying and I was irritated."

A condolence wreath mourning Jeong-in, the child victim of the so-called 'Jeong-in case.' / Photo by Yonhap News

Given these circumstances, citizens are expressing their anger. There is criticism that those who assaulted infants who cannot even speak properly simply because they were 'irritated' have no qualifications to be parents.

A 30-year-old office worker, Mr. A, said, "Killing a newborn baby by hitting is an atrocious act, but it is even more heinous that the perpetrator was the parent, not someone else," and urged, "A system must be established to protect children from such unqualified abusive parents."

Another office worker, Ms. B (28), stated, "Child abuse-related laws should be strengthened to severely punish abusive parents," adding, "If awareness is not raised, a culture that disregards life could spread."

Experts advised that reforming the system to protect children from abuse is an urgent task.

The Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry issued a statement on January 8, diagnosing the current situation by saying, "Child abuse requires the involvement of experienced and knowledgeable specialists in the field, but under the current system in Korea, it is practically difficult for experts to intervene from the initial stage through the return phase."

They continued, "Intervention by personnel with extensive knowledge and experience is necessary, and help from experts in child development, child psychology, and pediatric psychiatry who can guide them is needed," and suggested, "It is necessary to supplement the insufficient workforce and continuously provide education and management for specialized personnel."