Tragic Child Abuse Case: 20s Father Arrested in South Korea After Son’s Severe Injuries

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Authorities arrested A, a man in his 20s, on allegations that he abused his 3-year-old son in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province.

On the afternoon of April 12, the Uijeongbu District Court held a pre-arrest warrant hearing and issued an arrest warrant for A, citing flight risk and concerns that he might tamper with evidence.

A remained silent as reporters repeatedly asked whether he admitted the allegations while arriving for the hearing.

Police say A allegedly abused his son, identified as B, at the family’s apartment in Okjeok-dong, Yangju, at around 6 p.m. on April 9.

A family member called 119 reporting that the child was crying and experiencing convulsions. Emergency responders transported the boy to a hospital, where physicians found severe injuries to his face and head; he was reported to be unconscious and in critical condition.

After hospital doctors indicated the injuries were consistent with child abuse, police made emergency arrests of A and his wife, C.

Police later released C after considering that the couple has multiple children.

The family had previously been investigated for child abuse on Dec. 24 of last year; police recommended against prosecution at that time, and prosecutors declined to file charges.