A woman in her 30s, the biological mother, who posted on social media (SNS) a photo showing signs that she fed tteokguk to a 2-month-old baby, was sent to prosecutors on suspicion of child abuse.
On the 17th, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said it booked without detention and sent to prosecutors a woman in her 30s, identified as A, on suspicion of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act. According to police, A, at her home in Incheon in January–February, fed her 2-month-old son, identified as B, tteokguk, yogurt and strawberries, and is suspected of abuse. Police viewed that A physically abused B by feeding food other than formula to B, whose digestive system was not sufficiently developed.
A photo that A herself posted on SNS in February became the issue. Disclosing on SNS that she was caring for B, she uploaded a photo of a bowl with tteokguk and a baby spoon placed in it. She also posted a photo of B with a facial injury along with the words, "XXXX (the name of a famous singer) why are you scratching my precious child's face, seriously XXXX (expletive)."
Afterward, hundreds of comments expressing concern from internet users were posted on A's SNS in succession, and some filed reports to police suspecting abuse. In a police interview, A admitted feeding B foods including tteokguk but said, "I fed it so he would become healthier," according to reports.