Daycare Teacher Left Room After Serving Baeksulgi
Director Also Faces Criminal Liability for Negligence in Supervision
In connection with the incident in which a 2-year-old child choked and died while eating rice cake provided as a snack at a daycare center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, the homeroom teacher of the class and the daycare center director have been referred to the prosecution.
The homeroom teacher and the director have been referred to the prosecution in connection with the incident where a 2-year-old child choked and died while eating Baeksulgi at a daycare center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province (photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article content). Photo by Yonhap News
On August 11, the Gimpo Police Station announced that daycare teacher A and director B, both under suspicion of occupational negligence resulting in death, have been sent to the prosecution without detention.
The incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. on May 22. According to the police, teacher A provided Baeksulgi as a snack to the children at that time, and it was found that 2-year-old boy C lost consciousness after the rice cake became lodged in his throat.
The investigation revealed that although teacher A cut the rice cake into small pieces before serving it, she left the room for a certain period, during which time C began to show signs of choking. The daycare staff subsequently performed emergency measures, including the Heimlich maneuver, and the child was transported to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead at approximately 3:38 p.m.
An autopsy conducted by the National Forensic Service indicated that the direct cause of death was presumed to be "asphyxiation due to airway obstruction." This occurs when food blocks the airway, making it impossible to breathe, and is one of the common risks when very young children eat solid foods. Childcare facilities are advised to avoid using ingredients that pose a choking hazard when providing snacks, and it is generally recommended that rice cakes and nuts not be given to children under 36 months of age.
A police official explained, "It is true that footage from the scene shows emergency measures being taken, but the fact that Baeksulgi, which poses a high choking risk, was provided to a 24-month-old child, and that the teacher left the room immediately afterward, were both factors that contributed to the finding of negligence." Director B was also found not to have fulfilled her management responsibilities. The police stated, "As a manager, she neglected her duty to properly supervise staff and to check for potential risks in advance," and thus the charge of occupational negligence resulting in death was also applied to the director.
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