Couple Referred to Prosecution for Death of 7-Month-Old Son Due to Neglect While Gaming

▲ Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency

A couple in their 20s has been referred to the prosecution for neglecting their 7-month-old son to death while spending their time at internet cafes to play games.

Investigations revealed that the infant weighed only in the 3-kilogram range at the time of death, which is comparable to that of a newborn, highlighting the severity of the parents' neglect.

The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency announced today (July 14) that they have referred the couple, identified by their surnames A and B, to the prosecution under detention on charges of child abuse murder.

The couple, who are legally married, are accused of neglecting their 7-month-old son at their home in Daejeon, leading to his death from causes including malnutrition.

Police launched an investigation after receiving a report from a hospital on July 5 that an infant had been brought in already deceased. The National Forensic Service provided an autopsy report suggesting that the infant died from malnutrition and dehydration.

At the time of his death, the baby weighed only in the 3-kilogram range.

Considering that the standard weight for a 7-month-old boy is in the 8-kilogram range according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's growth charts, a weight of 3 kilograms is equivalent to that of a newborn at 0 months.

Investigations found that the couple, who were unemployed, frequently visited internet cafes and were preoccupied with games, leaving their young son alone for extended periods.

It was confirmed that neither parent has an intellectual disability or mental illness, and they had no other children.

Given that the parents had long abandoned the essential care required for the infant's survival, the police determined there was a high probability of a crime of omission with implied intent. Consequently, they applied the charge of child abuse murder rather than child abuse resulting in death.

The couple reportedly admitted to the facts of neglect, acknowledging that they had been negligent toward the baby, but they denied having any intent to kill.

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