[Reporter’s Notebook] Is the Jeong-in Case Solely the Police’s Responsibility?

Police’s Inadequate Response, No Room for Excuses
Severe Disciplinary Action for Officers Inevitable
Without Legal Authority, Police Are Powerless
National Assembly Proposes 11 'Jeong-in Prevention Acts' in Three Days
What Were Lawmakers Doing Three Months Ago?

Memorial messages, flowers, and gifts have been placed at the Hi Family Andersen Park Cemetery in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, where Jeong-in is laid to rest. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The 16-month-old adoptee 'Jeong-in' became a star in the sky three months ago, on October 13 last year. According to the autopsy results from the National Forensic Service, the cause of death was abdominal injury caused by external force. The tiny child, who probably never even saw the light of the world properly, must have endured unbearable pain, and that pain now seems to have transformed into national outrage.

The incident was not unnoticed at the time it occurred. On November 19 last year, when Jeong-in's adoptive mother, Jang Mo, was sent from the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul to the prosecution, more than a dozen media outlets gathered to cover the event. The controversy over 'inadequate response,' where the police visited three times but took no action, was already confirmed at that time.

There is no excuse for the police. Early last month, five people, including the team leader responsible for handling the case who ignored the third report, and two Abuse Prevention Officers (APOs), were referred to the disciplinary committee. They are unlikely to avoid severe punishment. More than 230,000 citizens agreed to a Blue House petition demanding the dismissal of the Yangcheon Police Chief and the officers in charge.

Nevertheless, the reason for defending the police is none other than the behavior of the political sphere. Currently, my email inbox is filled with messages from lawmakers expressing outrage over the 'Jeong-in case' and announcing efforts to amend the law. Some have proposed the so-called 'Jeong-in Act,' while others have sent statements saying 'Jeong-in, I am sorry.' But what was the National Assembly doing three months ago when this incident occurred? It was already an issue that had garnered sufficient public attention at the time. Yet, no lawmaker sent such emails back then.

The police are, after all, 'public officials.' Without legal backing, no public authority can be exercised. If there is no law guaranteeing the police's active involvement in child abuse cases and reducing their liability, passive responses like this case will inevitably recur. The police have long requested the National Assembly to amend the Child Abuse Punishment Act. Recently, the National Assembly has proposed as many as 11 so-called 'Jeong-in Prevention Acts' in just three days. Does the National Assembly only act when an issue becomes a big deal?

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