Step-Parents of Jeong-in Facing First Trial... Atrocities Revealed in Court

"10 Years as a Daycare Teacher, First Time Experiencing This Kind of Bruise"
"No Need for Autopsy to Determine Abuse"

The first trial sentencing hearing for Jeong-in's adoptive parents, who were charged with abuse leading to the death of 16-month-old Jeong-in, will be held on the afternoon of the 14th at the Seoul Southern District Court. On the morning of the same day, people searching for Jeong-in held a protest rally in front of the Seoul Southern Detention Center. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The first trial verdict for the adoptive parents accused of abusing and causing the death of 16-month-old adoptee Jeong-in will be delivered on the 14th.

The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Lee Sang-joo) will hold the sentencing hearing at 1:50 p.m. that day for the adoptive mother Jang, who was indicted on charges including murder, and the adoptive father Ahn, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act.

This comes four months after the first trial was held on January 13. In the first trial, the prosecution judged that Jang had intent or conditional intent to kill and set the murder charge as the principal charge.

This judgment was decisively influenced by testimonies from the autopsy doctor, forensic experts, and people around the adoptive parents. The adoptive mother’s heinousness was fully revealed during the trial process.

A, the director of the daycare center Jeong-in attended, testified as a witness at the second trial on February 17, saying, "Jeong-in, who returned to the center after two months, was emaciated like an African famine victim," and "She looked as if she had given up on everything." B, the daycare teacher, recalled Jeong-in’s appearance, saying, "I have worked as a daycare teacher for over 10 years, but I have never seen a child with bruises like Jeong-in."

At the third trial (March 3), acquaintances and neighbors of the adoptive parents and a psychological analyst who conducted a lie detector test on the adoptive mother appeared as witnesses. C, an acquaintance of the adoptive parents, testified, "Jeong-in was left in a parked car outside for over an hour," and "Even when eating, there was meat side dishes, but Jeong-in was only given plain rice with lettuce."

The head of the Psychological Analysis Office at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Forensic Science Analysis Division explained, "We asked whether Jeong-in was kicked or thrown on the floor, but the adoptive mother answered 'No' to all," adding, "However, all four analysts judged her answers to be false."

At the fourth trial (March 17), the autopsy doctor from the National Forensic Service said, "This is the most severe injury I have seen among child abuse victims so far," and "There is no need to perform an autopsy to determine whether it was abuse or not." Professor Yoo Sung-ho from Seoul National University College of Medicine’s Department of Forensic Medicine added, "The fact that Jeong-in had multiple fatal injuries suggests that the adoptive mother was aware of the possibility of death and still abused her."

Throughout the trial, the adoptive mother Jang claimed, "I hit the abdomen strongly several times with my hand," but denied, "I did not kick or throw the child." However, Lee Jung-bin, a distinguished professor of forensic medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine who appeared as the last witness, refuted the adoptive parents’ claims, stating, "Jeong-in was kicked in the abdomen at least twice, and the pancreatic transection and mesenteric rupture are presumed to have been caused by separate kicks," and "Jeong-in appears to have died from strong external force applied by foot or hand."

Ultimately, at the sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested the death penalty, stating that "it is judged that Jang had conditional intent to kill."