Mother Charged After Attempting Suicide with Two Children

A mother in her 40s, identified as A, has been indicted while in custody for attempting suicide with her two elementary school-aged children. The Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office announced on March 17 that A faces charges of attempted murder and child abuse. The incident occurred on February 16 at around 5:15 PM in a vacant lot in Naebuk-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungbuk Province, where A, her two children, and a friend in his 50s, referred to as B, attempted to take their lives in a parked vehicle. They were found unconscious and were subsequently hospitalized for treatment and recovery. Investigations revealed that A and B were in significant debt, which led to their drastic actions. It is believed that A administered sleeping pills to her children before the attempt. The prosecution is also investigating B as an accomplice under the same charges of attempted murder and child abuse. This case marks the first application of the newly established law regarding child abuse crimes in the Chungbuk area since its introduction in November of last year.