"Dad Burned His Hand, Show Me" Child Abuse Cases Following Cheonan in Changnyeong

Photo by SBS 8 News Capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Following the death of a 9-year-old boy who was confined in a travel suitcase in Cheonan, Chungnam, signs of child abuse were discovered in Changnyeong, Gyeongnam, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to multiple media outlets on the 9th, a severely emaciated 9-year-old child was rescued in Changnyeong with bruises and burns all over the body, and the child's stepfather (35) and biological mother (27) are under police investigation.

The abuse of girl A was revealed when a citizen reported to the police on the afternoon of the 29th of last month at 6:20 PM after spotting girl A walking down the street with bruises around her eyes.

At the time of discovery, girl A reportedly had bruises on her eyes and body, with wounds on her head that were bleeding. Additionally, some of her fingers were severely damaged due to burns and other injuries.

In an interview with a media outlet, a witness said, "The child was trembling and showed her hand, saying her father had hit her. Her face was unrecognizable. It was hard to look at her properly."

She added, "Her hands were swollen and blue, and I wondered if she could even eat in that condition, but she kept eating. It seemed like she was very hungry."

During the investigation, girl A reportedly testified that she had been abused by her stepfather and biological mother for about two years, from 2018 until recently.

The police plan to verify the facts by comparing the statements from both sides once the Child Protection Agency secures girl A's testimony regarding the abuse.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.