Mother Given Probation for Leaving 8- and 9-Year-Old Sons Naked in Mountain After "Not Listening"

Forced to come down a hill naked in the middle of the night
Court: "Guilt is serious but considering first offense and remorse"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Mothers who left elementary school children naked in a mountain at night for not listening were sentenced to suspended prison terms.

Judge Park Seong-gyu of the Criminal Division 4 at Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Ms. A, a woman in her 40s, who was tried for violating the Child Welfare Act (child abuse), to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. Her friend Ms. B, who was also tried for the same charge, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension.

Both Ms. A and Ms. B were ordered to complete a 40-hour child abuse treatment program and were banned from employment at child-related institutions for 3 years.

The court explained the sentencing by stating, "The defendants committed physical and emotional abuse against the victim children, and considering the nature of the crime, the culpability is serious," but added, "Since excessive physical force was used during the disciplinary process, there are circumstances to consider in mitigation."

Ms. A and Ms. B were indicted last June for allegedly hitting Ms. A’s two sons (aged 8 and 9) with a clothes hanger because they did not listen and stayed up late, stripping the two boys and making them walk naked on the streets of Gangseo-gu.

Afterwards, they took the children to the middle of Gaehwasan Mountain and instructed them to walk down the mountain on their own. The children, coming down the dark mountain naked, suffered injuries such as torn toes.

They stated during police investigation that their actions were for disciplining the children, but the police applied child abuse charges and referred the case last year.

Since neither the prosecution nor the defendants appealed, the verdict was finalized as is.

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