"Don't Go to School or Brush Your Teeth"‥70-Year-Old Father of Five Children Neglected Them, Receives Probation

Court, "Distorted Parenting Views, Custodial Parent Fails to Fulfill Duties" Appeal Dismissed

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] The appellate court upheld the original sentence of a suspended prison term for a man in his 70s who raised five children in unsanitary conditions and failed to provide even compulsory elementary education.

The Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kim Cheong-mi) announced on the 22nd that it sentenced A (76), who was charged with child abandonment and neglect under the Child Welfare Act, to six months in prison with a two-year suspension and ordered him to attend 40 hours of child abuse recidivism prevention lectures, the same as the original trial.

In the ruling, the court pointed out, "Although related agencies such as the community center recommended the victim children attend school through visits and phone calls, A expressed strong dissatisfaction and refused."

Regarding A's claim of no intent, the court judged, "Even if the victim child's school absence was initially based on the child's will, it is the duty of the guardian to investigate the specific causes, resolve the issue through appropriate cooperation and dialogue, and ensure the child can attend school."

The court also reiterated, "Blaming the school alone for the problem and repeatedly refusing school attendance requests while emphasizing his own independent educational philosophy infringed on the victim child's right to education."

Furthermore, the court dismissed the defendant's appeal, stating, "If the state agencies had not intervened in a timely manner, the damage would have been greater and lasted longer."

Previously, A was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial for raising five sons in an environment where mold spread throughout the house due to lack of cleaning and for telling his elementary school son not to attend school until becoming a middle school student.

A married a Cambodian woman in 2008 and lived with five sons, from the eldest B (10) to the youngest C (2), and was charged with failing to send his elementary school son to school, thereby depriving him of compulsory education.

Additionally, from September 2016 for nearly two years, he did not clean the house, resulting in mold in the bed, bathroom, and kitchen, raising his children in an unsanitary environment with severe odors.

In particular, he did not provide essential vaccinations for disease prevention and, claiming "toothpaste is harmful to health," did not have his children brush their teeth, neglecting dental diseases without treatment.

A, who refused support from the community center, denied all charges and appealed the first trial verdict, but the appellate court criticized his 'distorted parenting view' and dismissed the appeal.

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