A woman was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child abuse after her stepson was found unconscious inside a suitcase.

Police said Tuesday that they took into custody a stepmother in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on suspicion of child abuse and are reviewing whether to seek an arrest warrant for her.

The 43-year-old woman at her apartment in Cheonan called for emergency help around 7:25 p.m. Monday, saying her 9-year-old son was unconscious.

The boy was under cardiac arrest inside a suitcase when paramedics arrived at the scene and was moved to a nearby hospital.

The boy remains unconscious in intensive care as of Tuesday afternoon. Police said several bruises were found on the boy’s body.

The stepmother reportedly confessed to her involvement in the boy being inside the suitcase. She was quoted as saying that she ordered her stepson to get into the suitcase as a punishment.

Police suspect that the boy was locked up in there for at least three hours.

Under the Korean law, those who commit child abuse and put the victim in a critical condition can be sentenced to more than three years in prison. If the victim dies, the penalty can be raised to more than five years in prison.

By Ko Jun-tae (ko.juntae@heraldcorp.com)