20s Couple Who Killed 2 of Their 3 Children... Remaining Son Loses Parental Rights

On the 3rd of last month, in front of the Chuncheon District Court in Gangwon, a citizen held a protest demanding severe punishment in the appeal trial sentencing of the so-called 'Wonju Three Siblings Case,' in which the defendant was charged with causing the deaths of two of their three children, both under the age of one, but was acquitted in the first trial. The first trial's verdict was overturned in the appeal. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A couple in their 20s who caused the deaths of two of their three children have lost parental rights over their remaining child, resulting in the deprivation of their parental authority.

According to the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch on the 11th, a recent ruling was made to terminate the parental rights of the father, Hwang (27), and the mother, Kwak (25).

Parental rights termination is a system where the family court orders the loss or temporary suspension of parental rights upon request by the child, the child's relatives, or prosecutors, when there is concern that the parents may abuse or harm the child. It is a protective measure for minors who are victims.

Previously, the couple was prosecuted in the so-called "Wonju 3 Siblings Case" for causing the deaths of two children who were less than one year old.

Hwang was charged with covering his second daughter, who was 5 months old, with a thick blanket and leaving her unattended for a long time in a motel room in Wonju in September 2016, causing her death. Two years later, in June 2019, he was charged with pressing his thumb on the neck of his third son, who was 9 months old, for several tens of seconds, causing his death.

Besides the deceased second and third children, the couple was also found guilty of physically abusing their first child multiple times, including hitting the head, and neglecting and abandoning the child by raising them in unsanitary and poor conditions such as staying in a cramped car for about five months or washing the child with cold water in public restrooms.

The wife, Kwak, was also tried together on charges of knowing about her husband's actions but failing to stop him.

The first trial court ruled, "There is no reasonable doubt that there was intent to kill," and acquitted them of murder charges.

However, on June 3rd of last month, in the appellate court, Hwang was sentenced to 23 years in prison and Kwak to 6 years, and the couple appealed to the Supreme Court.

During the investigation, the prosecution judged that Hwang and his wife committed serious offenses such as child abuse and murder of two children, making it impossible for them to exercise parental rights any longer. Therefore, in April of last year, they filed for termination of parental rights over their only surviving child, the eldest son.

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