A 5-Year-Old Child Fell and Hit Their Head on the Floor, Told "You'll Be Okay"... Ultimately Passed Away

Childcare Teacher and Director Each Sentenced to a Fine of 7 Million Won

Children image.

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] A childcare teacher and a director who neglected a 5-year-old child injured after colliding with a friend during outdoor activities at a daycare center, failing to take the child to the hospital immediately, resulting in the child's death, were each sentenced to a fine of 7 million won.

On the 14th, Judge Yoon Seongheon of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 10 announced that A (26, female), a childcare teacher, and B (48, female), the director of a daycare center in Incheon, who were indicted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, were each sentenced to a fine of 7 million won.

A was charged with failing to take C (5), who was injured in the head after colliding with a friend while playing tag during outdoor activities at a basketball court in an apartment complex in Yeonsu-dong, Incheon, around 11:20 a.m. on October 21, 2020, directly to the hospital, which led to the child's death.

At the time, C collided with a friend who was running without properly looking ahead while playing tag during outdoor activities, fell again onto the concrete basketball court floor, and hit his head hard.

However, A took the child back to the daycare center and left him unattended for about two hours.

Although C complained of a headache, A did not call 119, saying "It will get better." C was later taken to the hospital but died two days after the accident due to head injuries.

At the time of the accident, A was conducting outdoor activities alone with 19 children without an assistant teacher, and although the original plan was to play with fallen leaves, she arbitrarily changed it to playing tag. B was aware that A was taking 19 young children outdoors but failed to properly manage and supervise.

The court stated, "A did not take preventive measures to avoid safety accidents in advance, and even after the accident, failed to provide appropriate first aid such as transporting the victim to the hospital. The defendants' guilt is not light as a serious outcome occurred with the death of a victim who was only 5 years old."

However, the court added, "The defendants admitted their wrongdoing in court, and both are first-time offenders with no prior criminal records," and "considering the settlement with the victim's parents," explaining the reasons for sentencing.

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