"30-Month-Old Child Suffers 14-Week Fracture Due to Daycare Discipline... Feeling Devastated"

30-Month-Old Baby Suffers 14-Week Fracture Due to Daycare Discipline
Child's Parents Say "May Limp Even After Becoming an Adult..."

A 30-month-old child, A, suffered a tibia fracture at a daycare center in Wonju, Gangwon. KBS news footage

At a daycare center in Wonju, Gangwon Province, a 30-month-old baby suffered a broken shinbone during a disciplinary process by a teacher and was diagnosed with a 14-week recovery period. The child's parents expressed their frustration, saying, "We heard that the child might limp even after becoming an adult."

According to KBS on the 13th, on the 23rd of last month, teacher A at a daycare center in Wonju witnessed 3-year-old boy B trying to hit a friend’s head with a toy. To stop him, A grabbed B’s arm while he was standing and forcibly made him sit down, during which the accident occurred.

Did not immediately take the child to the hospital after the accident... Child’s parents say "There was no contact even while taking the child to the hospital"

A said, "I thought I had to stop him first, so I grabbed the child’s arm and made him sit down, and the accident happened." The incident was promptly reported to director C. However, since C was away for an external schedule, they could not go to the hospital immediately and waited until C returned. After C arrived, B was taken to a nearby hospital, diagnosed with a fracture, and returned to the daycare center with a cast.

B’s parents pointed out that the daycare center director did not contact them at all while taking the child to the hospital after the accident. Mother D said, "I heard that the child came back with a half cast and that the teacher fed him lunch," adding, "I was shocked when I received a call while working and went to the daycare to see the child asleep with a cast on."

"I heard he might limp even after becoming an adult... It feels like the sky is falling"

D sought a more accurate diagnosis at a higher-level hospital, where the diagnosis was 'Other fractures of the left tibial shaft, closed.' The thick bone of the left shin was broken and pushed down toward the ankle, requiring 14 weeks of treatment. D said, "The doctor asked, 'What kind of force pressed to break such a large bone?'" and "He said that permanent disability could occur if not treated properly," expressing her distress. She appealed, "Hearing that he might limp even after becoming an adult feels like the sky is falling."

B was hospitalized for about two weeks and continues outpatient treatment with a cast. It is reported that A resigned from the daycare center immediately after the incident.

The police are investigating the teacher and the daycare center director on charges including child abuse.