Ansan police book father after 9-year-old reports violence by 'ordering' noodles on 112
In short
A 9-year-old in Sangnok-gu, Ansan, called the 112 police line at about 18:08 on October 4 and asked for a bowl of jjajangmyeon before telling officers that her father was trying to hit her mother. Police arrived about three minutes later and booked the father, a man in his 40s, on charges of special assault and violating the Child Welfare Act. He has been removed from the home and barred from coming within 100 m of the victim.
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Police in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, have booked a man in his 40s on charges of special assault and violating the Child Welfare Act after his 9-year-old daughter reported domestic violence by calling the 112 emergency line and speaking as if she were ordering food. The Ansan Sangnok Police Station disclosed the case on October 7, according to Asia Economy, Kukmin Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
At about 18:08 on October 4, the child called 112 from a multi-family house in Sangnok-gu, Ansan. She explained how many family members were at home and asked for a bowl of jjajangmyeon. Asia Economy reported that she was hiding in a room and that the officer who took the call sensed an emergency from her trembling voice. As the call went on and she calmed down, she told police, "Dad is trying to hit Mom," and described her parents arguing in the living room. Her 5-year-old sibling was also at home. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Police arrived about three minutes later, at around 18:11, took the father in on a voluntary basis and booked him. He is accused of hitting his wife on the shoulder with an electric fan and pushing her during the argument. Police also applied an emotional child abuse charge, saying that assaulting and swearing at his wife in front of their 9- and 5-year-old children amounted to emotional abuse. Hankook Ilbo reported that he was booked without detention. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
To prevent further harm, police removed the man from the home and imposed a temporary order barring him from coming within 100 m of the victim. Asia Economy and Hankook Ilbo reported that three domestic violence reports had been filed about the household this year. Asia Economy added that police had not separated the couple because the victim did not want it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
A police official said investigators were establishing the exact circumstances based on the victim's statement, and that the child appears to have used her wits by pretending to order jjajangmyeon so that she would not be caught reporting to police. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Police applied an emotional child abuse charge because the assault and verbal abuse took place in front of the couple's two children, aged 9 and 5. Two outlets report that the household had already been the subject of three domestic violence reports this year.
Key facts
- A 9-year-old called 112 at about 18:08 on October 4 from a multi-family house in Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The child explained how many family members were at home and asked for a bowl of jjajangmyeon, then told police that her father was trying to hit her mother. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police arrived at the scene about three minutes after the call, at around 18:11. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The father, a man in his 40s, was booked on charges of special assault and violating the Child Welfare Act. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He is accused of hitting his wife on the shoulder with an electric fan and pushing her during an argument. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police removed him from the home and imposed a temporary order barring him from coming within 100 m of the victim. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A 5-year-old sibling was also at home at the time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Three domestic violence reports had been filed about the household this year. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The child called 112 at about 18:08 on October 4 and spoke as if ordering jjajangmyeon before describing the violence. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police arrived about three minutes after the call. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The father, in his 40s, was taken in on a voluntary basis and booked on special assault and Child Welfare Act charges. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He is accused of hitting his wife's shoulder with an electric fan and pushing her. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police applied an emotional child abuse charge because he assaulted and swore at his wife in front of their 9- and 5-year-old children. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He has been removed from the home and barred from approaching within 100 m of the victim. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police said the child appears to have pretended to order jjajangmyeon to avoid being caught reporting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The household had been the subject of three domestic violence reports this year. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether earlier separation measures were taken after the previous reports. Only Asia Economy reports that police did not separate the couple earlier because the victim did not want it.
- Whether the father is under detention. Only Hankook Ilbo states he was booked without detention; the other outlets do not say.
- The full sequence of events and any injuries to the mother. Police say they are still investigating based on the victim's statement; no outlet describes injuries.
- When the assault began. Hankook Ilbo puts the assault at around 18:00; the other outlets give only the 18:08 call time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 4: the father allegedly assaults his wife at home while the two children watch, according to Hankook Ilbo. [ 4 ]
- October 4: the 9-year-old calls 112 and asks for a bowl of jjajangmyeon before describing the violence. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- October 4: police arrive at the house, about three minutes after the call. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- October 7: Yonhap reports the case, citing police. [ 1 ]