Incheon court jails woman, 39, for 3.5 years over father's death at 34 kg
In short
The Incheon District Court sentenced a 39-year-old woman identified as A to three years and six months in prison for abandonment resulting in the death of her father, 76. He died last year on 22 July of electrolyte imbalance linked to malnutrition and weighed 34 kg at 170 cm. The court announced the sentence on 20 October.
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Incheon District Court Criminal Division 13, with Kim Gi-pung (김기풍) as presiding judge, sentenced a 39-year-old woman identified as A to three years and six months in prison, the court announced on 20 October. She had been indicted for abandonment resulting in the death of her father, B, 76. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
According to the documents, A was charged with neglecting B at their home in Michuhol District, Incheon, from June until 22 July last year. B could not eat or use the toilet by himself, yet A was found not to have taken him to hospital. Yonhap, Maeil Business and Kukmin Ilbo reported that she also withheld rice and side dishes that neighbours had prepared for him, and that she ate cup tteokbokki alone on the building's stairs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
B died at around 18:37 on 22 July last year of electrolyte imbalance linked to malnutrition and related causes. He was 170 cm tall and weighed 34 kg. Dong-A Ilbo and Newsis said an autopsy by the National Forensic Service found this; Newsis added that he was in a state of severe reduced kidney function or severe dehydration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
B had collapsed on 30 May last year while going out to buy food and was diagnosed with general weakness at a nearby hospital. The district welfare centre had registered him as a case-managed person on 13 May and supplied lunch boxes and food. Four days before he died, welfare staff visited and A kept the door locked. On the day of the death she drove staff away and closed the door, and she went to the centre that day to apply for and receive the first livelihood recovery support payment. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Dong-A Ilbo said A argued at trial that she had cared for her father continuously, so she had no intent to abandon him and her conduct was not causally linked to his death. Newsis added that her side also argued diminished mental capacity. Newsis reported that the court found she was the victim's only direct blood relative, living with him, and held that a causal link existed. It rejected the capacity claim, noting that no psychiatric treatment or assessment records showing such a disorder had been confirmed. [ 2 , 5 ]
The court said A had a duty to support and protect a father who could not manage daily life and needed treatment, yet neglected him for a long period. It said she recognised his rapid decline and had received some support from welfare officials, but gave not even minimal care. It described the quality of the crime as very bad given its period and unfilial nature, and said B appeared to have suffered considerable pain until he died. Dong-A Ilbo added that the court weighed her lack of criminal record apart from a small fine for an unrelated offence. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The ruling shows how the court treated a case in which neighbours and welfare officials had offered help before the death. The documents give no information on wider policy consequences.
Key facts
- Incheon District Court Criminal Division 13 (presiding judge Kim Gi-pung) sentenced A, 39, to three years and six months in prison for abandonment resulting in the death of a parent; the court announced it on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The father, B, 76, died at around 18:37 on 22 July last year of electrolyte imbalance linked to malnutrition and related causes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- At death B was 170 cm tall and weighed 34 kg. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A was charged with neglecting B at their home in Michuhol District, Incheon, from June to 22 July last year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The district administrative welfare centre had registered B as a case-managed person on 13 May last year and supplied lunch boxes and food. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Welfare staff visited four days before B died and A kept the door locked; on the day of death A drove staff away and closed the door. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- On the day her father died, A went to the welfare centre and applied for and received the first livelihood recovery support payment. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A, 39, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison by Incheon District Court Criminal Division 13. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- B died on 22 July last year at 18:37 of electrolyte imbalance linked to malnutrition; he was 170 cm tall and weighed 34 kg. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The court said A had a duty to support and protect her father, who needed treatment, and neglected him for a long period, and that she was aware of his rapid decline and had received some support from welfare officials. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A received the first livelihood recovery support payment on the day her father died. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether A will appeal. None of the documents says whether an appeal has been or will be filed.
- The scene when B was found: police and paramedics forcing the door and finding him lying in a pile of rubbish. Only Dong-A Ilbo (doc 2) reports this.
- A's claim of diminished mental capacity. Only Newsis (doc 5) reports that the defence made this claim; it says the court rejected it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- B died on 22 July last year of electrolyte imbalance linked to malnutrition. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yonhap published its report of the sentence announced on 20 October. [ 1 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo published its report. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business published its report, citing Yonhap. [ 3 ]
- Newsis published its report. [ 5 ]