An infant abandoned in a goshiwon at two weeks old

An incident occurred in which a two-week-old baby was left abandoned in a small goshiwon measuring about two pyeong, suffering from malnutrition.

On the 3rd, Channel A reported that a two-week-old baby was found abandoned in the goshiwon.

According to the report, police who responded to a call stating that "there’s a baby crying" discovered the baby in a state of malnutrition that required medical attention.

The baby was immediately transported by ambulance; however, due to a lack of a birth registration record and insufficient neonatal intensive care unit beds, eight hospitals refused to provide treatment.

Subsequently, the baby was able to receive treatment at Seoul National University Hospital, located 10 kilometers from the goshiwon, which was one hour and 30 minutes after the baby was found.

According to the police, the baby’s mother was identified as a woman in her 30s of Vietnamese nationality. During the subsequent police investigation, the baby’s mother reportedly stated, “I faced financial difficulties,” and “I tried my best to breastfeed.”

Currently, the police have placed the baby, whose condition has improved due to hospital treatment, in protective custody and are investigating the mother for neglect under the Child Welfare Act.

Meanwhile, nearly a year has passed since the enforcement of the ‘birth notification system’; however, the ‘Act on Registration of Family Relations’ specifies that its target is limited to ‘nationals,’ leaving children born to foreign parents outside the scope of the birth notification system.

As a result, concerns have been continuously raised that foreign children, who are not subject to mandatory birth registration in the country, are at risk of being categorized as ‘shadow children’ and may face abuse or neglect.

Image source: Channel A, reference photo for understanding the article / News1, reference photo for understanding the article / Getty Images Bank