[Seocho-dong Legal Story] The Taxi Driver Who Gave a Ride to Jeong-in's Adoptive Mother Testified About the '20 Minutes'

Jeong-in's Gasping 'Chain Stock'... Stepmother Calm
CPR Performed in Taxi After Calling 119
2nd Trial: "Cannot Conclude Jeong-in Died from It"
1st Trial Life Sentence → 2nd Trial 35 Years Imprisonment 'Reduced'

On January 13, when the first trial of Jeong-in's adoptive parents was held, citizens held a protest in front of the main gate of the Seoul Yangcheon District Southern District Court. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] On October 13th last year at 10:48 a.m., taxi driver Mr. A picked up a passenger on a road in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. The passenger was Jang Mo, the adoptive mother holding the collapsed Jeongin. Jang asked to be taken to the hospital emergency room. Jeongin had broken ribs and clavicle, and her pancreas was completely severed.

Mr. A immediately noticed that Jeongin's condition was serious. Inside the car, Jeongin was heard breathing heavily every 30 seconds. It was not normal breathing. It was 'Cheyne-Stokes' breathing, a gasping pattern that occurs in the process of dying.

Mr. A found the situation very strange. Jang, reflected in the rearview mirror, was expressionless throughout. She did not urge despite the traffic jam. "If the child was in that condition, a normal mother would have lost her composure, but she seemed calm." (Testimony of Mr. A to the investigative agency)

In the recorded phone call between Jang and the 119 paramedics, there were no sounds of sobbing or agitated excitement. Although her breathing was somewhat rough, the conversation was calm. Even this happened only because Mr. A first suggested, "How about calling 119?" Following the instruction to "press the chest area with your fingers," Jang attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Jeongin. The taxi drove for about 20 minutes before dropping off the mother and child at the hospital. Jeongin was transferred to the emergency room but passed away at 6:40 p.m. after three cardiac arrests.

The prosecution stated that Jang, who was tried on charges including murder, showed abnormal behavior such as calling a call taxi instead of 119 in an urgent situation, casually answering calls from a juice company employee, and proceeding with a joint purchase of fish cakes. In court, Jang's side denied the allegation that she stepped on Jeongin's abdomen, claiming that the organ damage could have occurred during CPR.

On the 26th, the CPR in the taxi worked as favorable evidence for Jang. The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Seong Suje) stated, "Although there was at least a negligent intent to kill," it also said, "Considering that the defendant took Jeongin to the hospital and performed CPR during the process, it cannot be inferred that the defendant desired or hoped for Jeongin's death." Accordingly, the court reduced Jang's sentence from life imprisonment in the first trial to 35 years in prison.

Immediately after this ruling, online cafe bulletin boards were flooded with outrage, with comments such as "I don't understand the reason for the sentence reduction" and "A reduced sentence when even the death penalty is not enough." On the other hand, some argued that considering precedents of other child abuse cases and sentencing conditions, the sentence is not light. The prosecution is reportedly reviewing the verdict to decide whether to appeal to the Supreme Court.