Parents in Their 20s Let 7-Month-Old Die of Starvation While Spending 12 Million Won in Childcare Subsidies on Gaming

Received KRW 12.17 Million in Parental and Child Subsidies Over 7 Months
Malnutrition at 3 kg, Barely Above Birth Weight
Charged with Child Abuse Murder, a Heavier Offense Than Child Abuse Resulting in Death

A couple in their 20s has been indicted and detained for leaving their 7-month-old son unattended at home while engrossed in gaming, resulting in the child's death from malnutrition. It was revealed that they collected all 12 million won (KRW 12,000,000) of government and local childcare subsidies allocated for the child and spent them on gaming and related transactions.

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According to Yonhap News on the 18th, materials obtained from Daejeon City by Democratic Party lawmaker Park Junghyun's office, who is a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, showed that from December last year to last month, a total of 12.17 million won (KRW 12,170,000) in welfare benefits was paid in the name of the late 7-month-old infant A, who starved to death due to malnutrition.

The payments included: ▲800 million won (KRW 8,000,000) in parental allowances, ▲2 million won (KRW 2,000,000) as a First Meeting Voucher, ▲1.05 million won (KRW 1,050,000) in other childcare subsidies, ▲820,000 won (KRW 820,000) in child allowance, and ▲300,000 won (KRW 300,000) as a childbirth incentive. Even in the month A died, a total of 1,105,000 won (KRW 1,105,000) in parental and child allowances was deposited as usual.

Investigation revealed that the suspects' bank account, where government funds were deposited, had records of numerous payments for PC café usage and online games. A police official stated, "Other sources of income aside from government subsidies were also identified, so we cannot definitively say that all the aid was misappropriated." However, the official added, "We are investigating the possibility that part of the aid was used for gaming expenses."

Previously, on July 31, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office indicted and detained in their 20s, B and C, the parents of infant A, on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse murder).

No significant history of mental illness has been identified for them. A Daejeon city official stated, "The child received infant health checkups, and at least one required vaccination was verified, so the system flagged no anomalies." It was also determined that there were no previous reports of child abuse or domestic violence involving this family.

However, investigations revealed that the couple frequently visited PC cafés and were deeply absorbed in gaming, resulting in them leaving their newborn son unattended for long periods. At the time of death, infant A weighed only 3 kilograms, not even half the standard weight (around 8 kilograms) for a 7-month-old boy, with his weight barely changing since birth. Autopsy results from the National Forensic Service confirmed that the cause of death was malnutrition and dehydration.

The suspects acknowledged being neglectful toward their child but insisted they had no intent to kill him. Nevertheless, prosecutors and police concluded that by failing to provide nutrition and leaving a 7-month-old baby unattended, the parents could have foreseen fatal consequences. They therefore charged them with child abuse murder, which carries a heavier sentence than child abuse resulting in death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.