20s Parents Beat 2-Week-Old Son to Death... Background Involves 'Paternity Doubt'

Biological Father Questions Children's Parentage Citing Wife's Private Life
Ongoing Doubts Lead to Child Abuse
Throws Infant, Hits Face
Drinks to "Relieve Stress" Despite Son Having Seizures

A couple in their 20s who abused their 2-week-old baby to death / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A couple in their 20s who brutally assaulted their two-week-old son to death have been sentenced to prison. It has been confirmed that suspicion about the child's 'birth origin' was at the heart of this case. The father’s concerns over the mother’s complicated personal life extended to doubts about the child's paternity, leading to a family tragedy.

The 11th Criminal Division of Jeonju District Court (Chief Judge Kang Dongwon) sentenced the father, A (24), who was detained on charges including murder and child abuse, to 25 years in prison, ordered him to complete 200 hours of child abuse treatment programs, and imposed a 10-year ban on employment at child-related institutions.

Additionally, the court sentenced A’s wife, B (22), who was also detained and prosecuted, to 7 years in prison, ordered her to complete 200 hours of child abuse treatment programs, and imposed a 7-year ban on employment at child-related institutions.

The court stated, "The victim should have been raised with parental care after birth, but instead suffered abuse by his biological parents and ended his short life of 14 days," and added, "It is appropriate that the defendants receive punishments commensurate with their inhumane and appalling crimes."

They neglected to take children who showed severe symptoms, such as vomiting formula or being unable to open one eye properly, to the hospital. / Photo by Yonhap News

A and others are accused of repeatedly assaulting their two-week-old son, C, seven times in early February at an officetel in Iksan, Jeonbuk, where they lived, including throwing him onto a bed and slapping him hard, resulting in his death.

Prior to marriage, A had expressed suspicions about B’s complicated personal life and doubted whether the children were his biological offspring. A even demanded a DNA test for the children from B.

Even after B gave birth to their son in January and brought him home, A’s suspicions did not subside. This distrust escalated into abuse, and on February 7, the day the incident occurred, he assaulted the infant by lifting him up and throwing him onto the bed.

Police investigations confirmed that they abused the child by throwing him onto the bed or hitting his face, citing reasons such as "the baby crying and spitting up formula." Despite the child showing severe symptoms like vomiting formula, inability to open one eye properly, trembling limbs, and seizures, they did not take him to a hospital.

Moreover, when the baby would not stop crying, they repeatedly slapped his face with their palms, and "to relieve parenting stress," they neglected the child and drank alcohol.

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