Judge warned for leaving children alone in car in Guam

By Park Si-soo

A court in South Korea has issued a “stern warning” to a judge who was arrested in Guam last month after she and her husband left their children unattended in a parked car.

The judge, surnamed Sul, 35, and her husband, Yoon, were arrested on Oct. 2 after two women saw their children, aged one year and six years, locked inside a gray Mitsubishi Lancer parked outside Kmart.

The parents were originally accused of child abuse, but pleaded guilty to leaving children unattended or unsupervised in a car, which is classified as a petty misdemeanor.

They were each ordered to pay a $500 fine and $80 in court costs, and allowed to leave the island.

Suwon District Court said Friday it closed the case with a “stern warning” to the judge.

“Judge Sul’s act is not subject to punishment under domestic law,” a court spokesman said. “After careful consideration, the judge was given a stern warning.”

Under U.S. law, leaving minors unattended inside a car is classified and punishable as child abuse. South Korea does not do this.