Father Sentenced to Probation After Abusing Toddler

A 29-year-old father, previously sentenced to prison for abusing his two-year-old daughter, has had his sentence reduced to probation after expressing remorse during his appeal. The Chuncheon District Court's Criminal Division 1, presided over by Judge Shim Hyun-geun, overturned the initial 10-month prison sentence for child abuse and injury, instead imposing a 10-month sentence with a two-year probation period.

The father, identified as A, was accused of physically assaulting his daughter, referred to as B, on May 11, 2024, after she cried at home. He reportedly yelled at her, saying, 'You're so noisy, it's annoying. Go die,' and struck her multiple times with a sack used for cleaning.

Two days later, he allegedly continued the abuse for similar reasons, questioning her existence and hitting her with his fists and a spoon for spilling food and crying loudly.

The initial ruling from the Chuncheon District Court in Wonju stated that it was incomprehensible for a parent to act violently towards a child, even under difficult circumstances. Following the first trial, both A and the prosecution appealed, with A claiming the sentence was too harsh and the prosecution arguing it was too lenient.

In the appeal, the court noted A's apparent remorse during his time in custody and the fact that his wife expressed she did not wish for him to be punished. Taking these factors into account, the court decided to grant probation along with the prison sentence.