Gumi 3-Year-Old Girl Case: Biological Mother Sentenced to 8 Years in Second Trial... "Appeal Dismissed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Seok (49), identified as the biological mother in the case of a 3-year-old girl found dead last year in a villa in Gumi, Gyeongbuk Province, was sentenced to 8 years in prison in the appellate court, the same as in the first trial.

On the morning of the 26th, the 5th Criminal Appeals Division of Daegu District Court (Chief Judge Kim Seong-yeol) dismissed both the defendant's and the prosecution's appeals in Seok's appeal trial, who was detained and indicted on charges including abduction of a minor, stating that "the sentence handed down by the original court is neither excessively harsh nor lenient."

The court stated, "DNA testing holds significant evidentiary weight in fact-finding, and considering the results of three DNA tests, it can be concluded that there is a biological mother-child relationship between the deceased child and the defendant," adding, "Taking into account all circumstances before and after birth, including the child's blood type, it is recognized, as in the original trial, that the defendant swapped her biological daughter with the daughter born to her daughter on March 31 to April 1, 2018."

Previously, Seok swapped the girl she gave birth to with the girl born to her daughter Kim (22) in 2018. Kim was considered the biological mother of the deceased child but was revealed to be the older sister through DNA testing after the incident. The child born to Kim is separated from her biological mother and is currently missing.

Kim, who was indicted on charges including murder and violation of the Child Welfare Act, had her appeal dismissed on September 16, confirming her 20-year prison sentence.

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