[Column] Complaining About Fairness After Misdeeds... Nothing But 'Huanmuchi'

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-gu Southern District Court, citizens continued their protest in an agitated state as a transport vehicle, presumed to be carrying the adoptive mother Jang, entered. Attention is focused on whether the prosecution will apply murder charges to the adoptive mother Jang and others in this trial. The Women's and Children's Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jung-woo) arrested and indicted the adoptive mother Jang on December 8 last year on charges including child abuse resulting in death, and indicted the adoptive father Ahn without detention on charges including child abuse. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] “The court is asked to show leniency in consideration of fairness with other cases.”

This was said during the defense attorney’s final argument at the sentencing hearing. The defendant, who continuously abused an adopted child only 16 months old, ultimately causing the child’s death, was described as having “cared for the child more than an ordinary mother” and was said not to be a “psychopath.” The attorney pleaded that the adoptive mother, who has been portrayed as a demon, was not someone with an “evil nature.” Although feeling responsible and remorseful, the attorney argued that murder charges could not be applied.

The adoptive mother swore that she never hated the child or wished harm upon her. Her strong desire to raise the child well turned into obsession, and she expressed regret for causing the child so much suffering. She cried, saying she committed an unforgivable act and would accept any punishment. However, the adoptive mother’s true feelings revealed during the trial were different. She admitted to starving the child and casually mentioned that she did not hit the child this time. These were found in KakaoTalk conversations between the adoptive parents, which were deleted after the child’s death and after reports of child abuse were filed.

The adoptive father’s claim that he was unaware of the child abuse was also false. He did not hesitate to call his adopted daughter a “nuisance” and even suggested starving her all day. Although he did not physically hit the child, he continued abuse similar to the adoptive mother’s. While his wife caused the child’s death, he silently watched the cruelty. In court, he offered a weak excuse, saying, “I thought pointing out my wife’s anger would make the situation worse.”

On January 13, when the trial officially began, the prosecution unusually amended the indictment to apply murder charges against the adoptive mother. Witnesses who appeared in court unanimously testified to the adoptive mother’s continuous abuse, and the public was outraged. Every trial session saw dozens to hundreds of citizens gather in front of the courthouse demanding severe punishment for the adoptive parents. The prosecution fulfilled its role by requesting the death penalty, the highest sentence in court, for the adoptive mother.

It may be difficult for the court to impose a severe sentence as the prosecution requested or as the public expects. The “other cases” mentioned by the adoptive parents’ defense attorney in the final statement resulted in sentences around 20 years in prison. This was the reason the adoptive parents’ side referred to fairness. The remaining matter is the court’s judgment.