Biological Mother Who Hit 16-Year-Old Daughter with Vacuum Cleaner for Skipping Dinner Receives Probation

Lecture on Preventing Recidivism in Child Abuse and Employment Restrictions in Childcare Institutions
Court: "Significant Trauma to Victims... Considering Efforts to Restore Relationships and Requests for Leniency"

Chief Judge Park Jin-young of Criminal Division 2 at Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon sentenced A (56), who was charged with hitting his 16-year-old daughter with a vacuum cleaner, to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation. Photo by Chuncheon District Court.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] A biological mother who assaulted her daughter with a vacuum cleaner for not properly explaining why she skipped dinner was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, Judge Park Jinyoung of the Criminal Division 2 at Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon Province sentenced A (56), who was charged with child abuse under the Child Welfare Act and special injury, to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. In addition, A was ordered to attend 40 hours of child abuse recidivism prevention lectures and was banned from employment at child-related institutions for 3 years.

On November 15 last year, A was tried for assaulting her daughter B (16) at her home in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, by hitting her with the vacuum cleaner wand and main body, causing a fracture around the eye area and injuries requiring about 8 weeks of treatment. At the time, A became enraged when B said she would not eat dinner and did not properly explain the reason. A then repeatedly struck B’s arm and shoulder with the vacuum cleaner wand, and when B tried to block the assault, A swung the vacuum cleaner main body, injuring B’s face.

A’s side claimed in court, "I only intended to scare my daughter and did not deliberately commit the crime." However, the court ruled that the injury charge was valid, considering B’s consistent and detailed victim statement and the fact that an angry A brought the vacuum cleaner from the master bedroom and swung it.

Judge Park said, "The defendant, as the victim’s biological mother, should have protected, cared for, and raised the victim’s health, happiness, and safety more than anyone else, but instead assaulted and injured her with a dangerous object," adding, "The nature of the crime is serious, and the victim appears to have suffered considerable physical and psychological shock." However, he explained the sentencing by saying, "Considering that the defendant has received counseling and education from a child protection agency after the incident and has made efforts to restore the relationship with the victim, and that the victim pleaded for leniency."