"7-Month-Old Son Hiccups... Father Guilty of Hitting Sole with Fly Swatter"

Child Abuse Conviction... Fine of 3 Million Won
Court: "Physical Abuse, Not Care"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] A man in his 20s who hit the soles of his 7-month-old son's feet with a fly swatter to stop his hiccups was found guilty of child abuse.

According to Yonhap News on the 23rd, Judge Kwak Kyung-pyung of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 2 sentenced A (28) to a fine of 3 million won and ordered him to complete 40 hours of a child abuse treatment program on charges of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Yonhap News]

A was tried on charges of abusing his 7-month-old son B three times at his home in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon in 2021. He repeatedly hit B's soles with the handle of a fly swatter and a back scratcher, and also threw a pillow.

A denied the child abuse charges, saying, "I hit my son's feet to stop his hiccups by making him cry." However, the court ruled that even if A's claim were true, hitting the soles of his 7-month-old son's feet with a fly swatter and other objects was abuse, not proper childcare.

Judge Kwak said, "The defendant, as a father, should have protected and raised the child, but he physically abused him," adding, "However, it seems there was also some intention to stop the child's hiccups." Regarding the sentencing, he stated, "Consideration was given to the fact that A has no prior record of child abuse."

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