‘Jeong-in Incident’, Supreme Court Decision on 28th... Foster Mother’s Sentence Reduced to 35 Years in Appeal Trial

by Heo Kyungjun

Published 25 Apr.2022 14:53(KST)

1st Trial: Life Imprisonment → 2nd Trial: "Difficult to See as Proper Considering Principle of Proportionality of Crime and Punishment"

On November 5 last year, the day of the appellate trial verdict for the adoptive parents accused of causing the death of 16-month-old adopted girl Jeong-in through abuse, citizens held placards in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The Supreme Court ruling on the adoptive parents sentenced to 35 years and 5 years in prison respectively in the appellate court for abusing and causing the death of 16-month-old adopted child Jeong-in will be announced on the 28th.

According to the legal community on the 25th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Kim Jae-hyung) will hold the verdict hearing on the 28th for Jang, the adoptive mother charged with murder, and Ahn, the adoptive father accused of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abuse).

Jang was prosecuted in December of that year on charges of repeatedly abusing Jeong-in, whom she adopted from March to October 2020, leading to her death. Ahn was also indicted for neglecting to prevent such abuse. At the time of death, Jeong-in's body was found with broken ribs and clavicles, and her pancreas was completely severed.

Previously, Jang was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial, but the sentence was significantly reduced to 35 years in the second trial. Ahn was sentenced to 5 years in prison in both the first and second trials. The second trial court acknowledged Jang's guilt for murder but stated the reason for the sentence reduction was that "imposing life imprisonment, which permanently isolates her from society, is difficult to consider appropriate in light of the principle of proportionality of punishment."