Prosecutors on Tuesday revealed photos of the food bowl used by fatally abused 7-year-old, Shin Won-young, and the bathroom where he stayed up until his death.

The Pyeongtaek Branch of Suwon Prosecutors’ Office on Monday are seeking imprisonment of lifetime and 30 years in prison, respectively, for Shin’s stepmother, surnamed Kim, and father, whose 2-year-long abuse of the child eventually led to the his death in February.

Their trial is ongoing.

Before the boy’s death, Kim had deprived him of food, providing him with only one meal per day.

She kept the weakened victim in a bathroom between November and February when the average temperature had dropped below zero degrees Celsius. She even occasionally drenched him in cold water and bleach.


As for the boy’s father Shin, 38, the prosecution said he had used his son’s custody as a tool to win a divorce suit against his ex-wife.

Prosecutors described his actions toward his son as gross negligence, contributing to his death by doing nothing about the abuse.

According to the prosecution’s claim, the victim’s death had been intentional.

Following the victim’s death, the couple had discussed plans to conceive a baby. They left the victim’s body on their verandah for 10 days before burying him on a mountain.

In the trial that took place Monday, Kim tried to take all the blame, crying for mercy for Shin and saying she would forever atone for her sins by praying for the victim. 


Shin wept without saying anything, with his head bowed.

The psychotherapist who counseled the parents told the court that Kim had suffered abuse by her stepmother in childhood and that those memories had resurfaced in their worst form in her actions toward the victim.

Shin, who had fought with Kim over his son, thought intervening would only exacerbate the situation, according to the therapist.

The final hearing of the trial will take place on Aug 10.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)