A church official has been arrested in connection with the case of a young child who was found unconscious at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, and ultimately died.
The South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency announced that it has arrested a man in his 60s, identified as Pastor A of the church, on charges of child abuse resulting in death.
A is accused of taking in 11-year-old B several years ago, making him live at the church, and subjecting him to abuse and neglect.
Around 8:50 PM on the 5th, A and other church officials called 119, stating that B was sick.
B was transported to a hospital but passed away approximately three hours after the report.
At the time, B was showing symptoms of high fever and exhaustion. Hospital staff discovered signs that raised suspicions of child abuse on B's body and reported the suspected child abuse to the police.
Based on injuries found on parts of B's body, the police believe B was abused and are investigating the circumstances.
The police have reportedly secured witness statements stating that "B was tied to a bed inside the church."
According to police investigations, a total of four suspected child abuse reports regarding B had been filed from 2021 until recently.
In particular, it was found that two abuse reports were filed around the beginning of this month, about a week before B's death.
The police stated, "Both reports filed this month were made by citizens who spotted B outside and suspected abuse, notifying the police."
Upon receiving the citizens' reports at the time, the police initiated an investigation and reportedly discussed measures with related organizations, such as Cheonan City Hall, to transfer B to a protective facility.
However, considering B's psychological and behavioral characteristics, he was reportedly not immediately transferred to a protective facility, and less than a week later, B ultimately passed away.
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Hong Jin-young | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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