[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] In Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, a foster father who abused a 2-year-old adopted child, leaving the child in an unconscious state, reportedly stated that he adopted the child because he "felt sorry after volunteering at an orphanage." Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the agency responsible for the adoption recently conducted a post-adoption interview with the family over the phone, raising concerns about the lax management of adoptions.
The Women and Youth Investigation Unit of the Southern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency applied for an arrest warrant on the 10th for a man in his 30s, Mr. A, on charges of serious injury under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes. The foster mother was also booked without detention on charges of neglect under the Child Welfare Act.
Mr. A is suspected of violently beating the adopted child, Ms. B, on the morning of the 8th, causing her to lose consciousness.
According to the police, Ms. B was brought to a nearby hospital in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where Mr. A lives, around 6 p.m. that day in an unconscious state and was later transferred to Gil Hospital in Incheon.
Medical staff at the hospital reported suspected abuse to the police after discovering bruises on various parts of Ms. B’s body, including her face, along with a brain hemorrhage. The police subsequently determined that Ms. B was abused and fell into an unconscious state, leading to Mr. A’s emergency arrest.
During the police investigation, Mr. A admitted to the abuse, stating, "The child kept whining, so I hit her a few times with my hand. After she fell asleep, I tried to wake her several hours later, but she didn’t wake up, so I took her to the hospital."
Investigations revealed that Mr. A struck Ms. B’s face and head with his hand and a wooden shoehorn.
On the 10th, Mr. A reportedly stated during questioning, "In 2019, my wife and I were volunteering at an orphanage where we first met Ms. B. Later, feeling sorry for her, we adopted her through an adoption agency and raised her."
Since Mr. A and his wife adopted Ms. B, no reports of abuse related to Ms. B had been received.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that the agency responsible for the adoption recently conducted a post-adoption interview with the family by phone.
According to data submitted by the office of Assemblywoman Shin Hyun-young of the Democratic Party to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, SBS reported on the 10th that an adoption agency in Gyeonggi Province sent Ms. B to Mr. A and his wife in August of last year.
Under the Special Adoption Act, adoption agencies are responsible for post-adoption management during the first year after adoption. The agency reportedly conducted a home visit in October last year and phone consultations in January and April of this year.
Regarding the interviews, the agency reportedly reported that "attachment relationships were formed with parents and siblings" and that no signs of abuse or other unusual circumstances were found.
Meanwhile, the Suwon District Court is scheduled to conduct a warrant hearing for Mr. A tomorrow (the 11th).
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