Special Investigation Team and Jeongin Act Fail to Prevent Second and Third Cases of Jeongin Tragedies

[Known Faces]③Relentless Child Abuse

Special Teams Formed in Police Agencies Nationwide
Despite Harsher 'Maximum Death Penalty' Punishments, Abuse Persists
30,000 Cases and 43 Deaths Last Year
Emotional Abuse Remains Difficult to Detect

Citizens hold placards in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 5th, the day of the appellate trial's final hearing for the adoptive parents accused of abusing and causing the death of 16-month-old adopted girl Jeong-in./Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Seungyoon Song] "We failed to raise any social awareness about child abuse."

On the 26th of last month, citizens gathered in front of the Seoul High Court could not hide their anger toward the court after the appeal trial results were announced. Jang Mo (35), the adoptive mother who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial for abusing and causing the death of 16-month-old adopted child Jeong-in, had her sentence reduced to 35 years in prison in the appeal trial. Citizens wept, saying, "We cannot understand the court's judgment that she did not commit a crime warranting permanent isolation from society," and "It is so shameful that we cannot do anything for the children."

Since the 'Jeong-in case,' which sparked national outrage, various sectors have proposed preventive measures to stop child abuse, but the reality remains stagnant. Although a year has passed since Jeong-in's death, child abuse continues to occur frequently across the country.

Following the Jeong-in case last year, the police formed special investigation teams for child abuse in local police agencies nationwide. This was a measure taken amid growing public criticism of inadequate investigations into child abuse cases. In March this year, the revised Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, commonly known as the 'Jeong-in Law,' was enacted. The revision introduced the crime of child abuse homicide, with penalties including the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for seven years or more. This is a much harsher punishment compared to the previous child abuse manslaughter charge, which carried life imprisonment or imprisonment for five years or more.

However, these measures have not been effective in preventing child abuse. On the 29th of last month, the police arrested and sent to prosecution Lee Mo (33), a stepmother who abused her stepson Oh Mo (3) to death at their home in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on charges of child abuse homicide and habitual child abuse. The police believe that Lee, who was eight weeks pregnant, committed abuse due to childcare stress and financial difficulties while raising a child under one year old and her stepson.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that the number of child abuse cases last year was 30,905, a 65% increase compared to 18,700 cases in 2016. This is more than five times the 6,058 cases reported in 2011. Among these, 43 children died due to child abuse. The situation is even more severe for emotional abuse, which leaves no physical injuries. Cases of emotional abuse, including verbal insults, emotional threats, and confinement, increased nearly tenfold from 909 cases in 2011 to 8,732 cases last year. This increase is even greater than the overall rise in child abuse cases.

Like neglect, emotional abuse often goes unreported unless the victimized child actively reports it, so the actual number of emotional abuse cases is estimated to be much higher than official statistics. Gong Hye-jung, president of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, emphasized, "Nearly 70% of children who died from abuse last year were under the age of three, so it is necessary for public officials to visit homes directly to assess the situation," adding, "The lives of abused children cannot wait."