This is deeply infuriating news.
It has been revealed that a couple in their 20s, who left their 7-month-old son neglected for a prolonged period leading to his death from malnutrition, steadily collected around 12 million won in child-rearing support funds for themselves.
According to data submitted by Daejeon City and other authorities to the National Assembly, the total welfare benefits disbursed by the government and Daejeon City for A, the 7-month-old who died of malnutrition, amounted to 12.17 million won from December of last year to July.
It was confirmed that even in July, the month A died, 1 million won in parental allowances and 105,000 won in child allowances were paid out.
Investigations showed that A's parents, who had no steady jobs, neglected their newborn baby for extended periods while playing games at PC rooms.
At the time of his death, A weighed in the 3kg range, which was less than half the standard weight for a 7-month-old boy.
Critics are pointing out that measures must be strengthened to directly verify a child's survival and safety during the process of issuing child-rearing allowances.
Meanwhile, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office indicted the couple in their 20s on charges including child abuse resulting in death on July 31.
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