Four-Year-Old Child Found Next to Deceased Woman... Was an 'Unregistered Child'

Found Unconscious Next to Corpse
Presumed Birth Registration Omitted

A 4-year-old boy who was found collapsed next to a deceased woman in her 40s at a villa in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, has been confirmed as an 'unregistered child.'

On the 10th, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency announced that on the 8th, a woman identified as Ms. A (41) was found in a decomposed state on the third floor of a villa in Wansan-gu, Jeonju. At that time, boy B (4) was found unconscious next to Ms. A and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment after being rescued.

Boy B had not consumed food for a considerable period, which had deteriorated his health condition, but fortunately, his life was not in danger.

According to the police investigation, boy B is presumed to be the biological son of the deceased Ms. A. However, boy B's name does not appear on the family relationship certificate, leading the police to believe that his birth registration was omitted.

In front of a villa in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, where a woman in her 40s was found dead on the 9th. A diaper box presumed to belong to a 4-year-old boy is placed there. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, along with related ministries and agencies, conducted a full survey of 2,123 unregistered children born between 2015 and 2022, but boy B was not detected during that time either.

The police have requested a paternity test from the National Forensic Service to confirm whether boy B is Ms. A's biological child.

Meanwhile, Ms. A was discovered by police and 119 paramedics at around 9:55 a.m. on the 8th. The landlord reportedly reported the case, saying, "The tenant has not been in contact for several days."

Since the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition, it is difficult to estimate the exact time of death. It was also reported that the living conditions of the mother and child were very poor. The house was not properly organized, with trash and clutter piled up in various places, making it an unsuitable environment for raising a child.

Ms. A was not identified as a recipient of welfare benefits such as basic livelihood security or lower-income support. However, approximately 1.2 million KRW in health insurance premiums had been unpaid for 56 months, and housing management fees were overdue by six months.

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