Prosecutors seek life sentence for biological father who fed his 2-year-old daughter Samyang Buldak Spicy Chicken Sauce and soju... He says, belatedly, "I regret it"

[Financial News]  Prosecutors have sought heavy sentences for a couple in their 30s who abused and killed their 2-year-old daughter, who was born prematurely, including by feeding her Samyang Buldak Spicy Chicken Sauce and soju.

According to Yonhap News Agency and other reports on the 29th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court, presided over by Judge Park Woo-geun, held the final hearing that day for A and B, who were indicted on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, including child-abuse murder.
Prosecutors asked the court to sentence A to life imprisonment and B to 15 years in prison.
They also asked the court to order the couple to complete an 80-hour child-abuse treatment program and impose a 10-year ban on employment at institutions related to children and adolescents.
A and B were indicted on charges of abusing and causing the death of their 2-year-old biological daughter at their home in Seo-gu, Daejeon, on December 16, 2024.
Investigators found that the child had been born prematurely and received intensive treatment for more than a year in a pediatric intensive care unit and other facilities.
Prosecutors believe that A and B repeatedly beat the child beginning in October 2024, after she was discharged from the intensive care unit for the second time.
When the child appeared to be in poor condition, the couple allegedly put soju in a medicine bottle and fed it to her instead of taking her to a hospital. A medical assessment reportedly found that, because the child was intoxicated after drinking soju, she likely had even greater difficulty breathing.
Prosecutors believe that on the day before her death, the couple fed their daughter spicy Buldak Ramen sauce and then dropped her on the floor while washing her.
The abuse came to light after medical staff reported finding signs of abuse on the child’s body after she was taken to a hospital by paramedics and died.
The deceased child had bruises on her body and was malnourished, weighing only 6.9 kilograms at the time of her death. An autopsy reportedly found fractures to her skull, ribs and other bones.
When asked in court why he had abused his daughter, A said, "I was under a lot of stress. I didn't know the child would die."
Regarding feeding the child Buldak sauce, B responded that the purpose was to stimulate her appetite. She also explained that she gave her soju because she had heard that elderly people in rural areas give alcohol to children and believed it would help with blood circulation.
Prosecutors criticized A, saying, "Even taking into account the stress of raising a victim who was born prematurely and in poor health, the abuse inflicted on the child was extremely severe and repeated." They added, "Although he admitted to some of his crimes, he tried to conceal them by minimizing certain facts and coordinating his statements with his spouse."
Regarding B, prosecutors said, "The case is extremely serious because she repeatedly assaulted and killed the child with her husband." They explained their sentencing recommendation, adding, "However, her abuse was less severe than A's, A appears to have been the decisive cause of the child's death, and she must raise their remaining children."

The couple's attorney appealed for leniency, saying, "They had an extremely difficult time raising four children, including the victim, without much help." The lawyer added, "Their financial hardship made each day difficult to endure, and they ended up doing things they should not have done."
In his closing statement, A said, "I know very well that I treated my daughter wrongly, and I am reflecting on and regretting what I did."
B also said, "I did something wrong, and I want to ask the child for forgiveness."
Meanwhile, the sentencing hearing for the couple is scheduled to take place on the 22nd of next month.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter