Police chief issues apology over botched response to case of abused child

Police chief Kim Chang-yong offers his apology over the death of a 16-month-old baby who was allegedly abused by her adoptive parents at the National Policy Agency in Migeun-dong, downtown Seoul, Wednesday evening. Yonhap

The chief of the National Police Agency (NPA) apologized Wednesday for the possible mishandling of the death of a 16-month-old baby who was allegedly abused by her adoptive parents.

"I offer a sincere apology for failing to protect the life of a young abused victim," Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong said during an unscheduled briefing at police headquarters.

"I feel deeply responsible for the botched initial response and inadequate investigation as police chief," he said, adding that the NPA would take the opportunity to overhaul its response system to child abuse allegations.

The death of the toddler, named Jung-in, has triggered an outpouring of grief nationwide and anger over the many missed chances to save her.

Her case has gained renewed national attention after SBS, a local broadcaster, aired an investigative report over the weekend revealing the utter brutality of the abuse allegedly done to the baby, and how child welfare agencies and police squandered chances to save her life.

Police especially came under fire for not thoroughly investigating the case, even though they received three reports about suspected abuse over a five-month period. Jung-in died in October, just eight months after she was adopted.

The police chief said the head of the Seoul Yangcheon Police Office, which has jurisdiction over the case, was removed from his post to take responsibility for the mismanagement.

A petition posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website Monday demanded the head of the Yangcheon Police Office and officers who handled the case be fired. The petition garnered more than 200,000 signatures in a single day, the threshold for an official response from the government. (Yonhap)

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