▲ Reporter interview
A couple in their twenties are being investigated by the police for taking a six-month-old infant to a PC room and neglecting it.
Today (19th), the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Women and Youth Crime Investigation Unit said that it is investigating a 29-year-old man A and a 26-year-old woman B for neglect under the Child Welfare Act.
The couple who are in a common-law relationship are accused of taking 6-month-old Miss C to a PC room in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, at around 8 pm on the 10th and playing online games while sitting in a chair in the PC room.
As the child kept crying, another guest who saw this scene reported to the police that "the child keeps crying, but seeing the game seem to be neglecting him."
The police secured testimony from the surroundings that the couple did not actively take care of the game because the couple shook the chair on which Ms. C, who was crying occasionally, was swayed for a while, and then put it down.
There were many visitors at the time in a large PC room, but it is said that the baby was not wearing a mask.
However, as a result of police confirmation, there was no trauma that could suspect child abuse.
Also, on the 3rd, the police are looking into whether it is habitual based on the history of receiving a report that Mr. A neglected Miss C.
An official at Dobong-gu Office, the ward office that has jurisdiction over Ms. C's residence, said, "I plan to conduct a visit survey on this family next week."
A police official explained, "If we confirm the suspicion at the stage in which we are currently investigating the couple, we will file a bill."
If a child's guardian neglects without fulfilling the basic protection and parenting obligations, including food, clothing and shelter, it may be punished for neglect under the Child Welfare Act.