World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
South Korean father sent to prosecutors over toddler’s death from malnutrition
Police in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, sent a father to prosecutors on a child abuse murder charge after his 17-month-old daughter died.
Police say he gave her only formula two or three times a day for about five months, without the solid food needed for her growth.
The girl was found in a severely malnourished condition and later died in hospital; an initial autopsy opinion said malnutrition was the likely cause.
Investigators say the father knew she might die but did not seek medical care or improve her diet, so they upgraded the charge from child abuse causing death to child abuse murder.
Police say he and the girl’s mother had left her alone while working, and the mother also allegedly neglected her before leaving the home in October.
The mother remains under investigation for suspected abandonment and neglect, and police are examining whether she bears legal responsibility for the death.
The case now goes to prosecutors, who will consider the charges against the father.
South Korean police sent a 30-year-old father to prosecutors on suspicion of child abuse murder over the death of his 17-month-old daughter from suspected malnutrition.
Police said he fed her only formula two or three times a day for about five months, without solid foods or snacks.
Investigators said he left the child alone at home and did not seek medical care or improve her diet despite recognizing she could die.
The father’s wife is also under investigation on suspicion of abandoning and neglecting the child.
- Who
- The child’s 30-year-old father was sent to prosecutors. Her 20-year-old mother is also under investigation.
- What
- The father was sent to prosecutors on suspicion of child abuse murder and child abandonment and neglect.
- When
- He was sent on November 5, 2026. The alleged neglect lasted about five months, from mid-May to late October.
- Where
- The family lived in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.
- Why
- Police allege the father neglected the child’s nutrition and care despite recognizing her condition could be fatal.
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Police allege the father fed his daughter only formula two or three times daily and did not provide other nutrition.
The mother left the home after an argument, and police said the father continued to neglect the child.
The father began working at another job about 10 days before his daughter died, police said.
The father called emergency services saying the child was not breathing; she later died in hospital.
Police sent the father to prosecutors on suspicion of child abuse murder and abandonment and neglect.
- Child’s age
- 17 months
- Alleged period of neglect
- About five months, from mid-May to late October
- Alleged feeding
- Formula two or three times a day
- Death reported
- October 28
- Prosecutorial referral
- November 5, 2026
- Investigating police unit
- Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency’s women and juvenile crimes investigation unit
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I'm sorry.
I'm sorry to my child.