Who is baby Jung-in, and why are Koreans apologizing?

Summary

This tragic story highlights the case of Cheongin, a 16-month-old baby girl adopted in 2019 by a seemingly perfect family. However, behind closed doors, she was subjected to horrific abuse, leading to her death. Despite being reported for child abuse three times, police failed to act. Public outrage grew after the details were revealed, with over 200,000 signing petitions calling for stronger punishment and reforms in child protection laws. The case gained widespread attention, with celebrities like BTS's Jimin raising awareness. President Moon Jae-in condemned the tragedy, calling for stricter adoption oversight.

Takeaways

• 👪 A seemingly perfect adopted family, including a young couple and their daughter, adopted a baby girl named Cheongin in 2019.
• 📺 The family appeared on TV, presenting themselves as a poster family for adoption.
• 💔 Behind the scenes, Cheongin suffered severe abuse, leading to her tragic death.
• 👮‍♀️ The adoptive mother was accused of months of physical abuse and ultimately causing Cheongin's death by striking her on the back.
• ⚖️ The adoptive father faced charges of child neglect and abandonment.
• 🩺 Cheongin's autopsy revealed extensive damage to her organs, including her intestines and pancreas, leading to her death at only 16 months old.
• 🚨 The Seoul police faced criticism for mishandling the case, having ignored three previous reports of suspected child abuse.
• ✍️ Over 200,000 people signed online petitions demanding stronger punishment for Cheongin's adoptive parents and better child protection laws.
• 🔄 The case returned to public attention after being featured on a TV show, sparking the hashtag #SorryCheongin and raising global awareness about child abuse.
• 🌍 Public figures, including BTS's Jimin and President Moon Jae-in, spoke out about the tragedy, calling for reforms in adoption processes and police response to child abuse cases.

Q & A

Who were the adoptive parents of Cheongin?

Cheongin was adopted by a young couple who already had a daughter of their own.

When was Cheongin adopted by her adoptive parents?

Cheongin was adopted in 2019 by her adoptive parents.

How did the public initially perceive Cheongin's adoptive family?

The public initially saw Cheongin's adoptive family as the perfect adopted family, even appearing on a TV show that portrayed them positively.

What led to the discovery of Cheongin's tragic situation?

The tragic situation came to light when Cheongin's cold, lifeless body, showing signs of abuse, was discovered.

What were the charges against Cheongin's adoptive mother?

Cheongin's adoptive mother was accused of physically abusing her for months and causing her death by striking her on the back.

What charges did Cheongin's adoptive father face?

Cheongin's adoptive father was charged with child neglect and abandonment.

What did the autopsy reveal about Cheongin's death?

The autopsy revealed that Cheongin died from extensive damage to her organs, including her intestines and pancreas.

How old was Cheongin at the time of her death?

Cheongin was only 16 months old when she died.

What criticisms did the Seoul police face regarding the case?

The Seoul police were criticized for mishandling the case, as they had received three reports of suspected child abuse involving Cheongin but failed to take action to protect her.

What was the public's reaction after Cheongin's case became known?

Over 200,000 people signed online petitions demanding stronger punishment for the adoptive parents and better child protection laws.

What campaign emerged after a TV show covered Cheongin's story, and who supported it?

The hashtag #SorryCheongin trended online, with support from civilians, celebrities like BTS's Jimin, and others raising awareness to prevent child abuse.

What did President Moon Jae-in say about Cheongin's case?

President Moon Jae-in described the incident as very unfortunate and emphasized that it should never have happened. He called for stronger oversight of adoption procedures in Korea.