Court reduces sentences in newborn killing case, acquits mother

A Korean appellate court has reduced sentences of a hospital director and a surgeon convicted of killing a newborn baby shortly after it was delivered via cesarean section, while acquitting the mother of all charges.

The Seoul High Court sentenced the hospital director surnamed Yoon to four years in prison, along with a fine of 1.5 million won ($1,000) and forfeiture of 9 million won.

The operating surgeon, identified as Shim, received a sentence of two years and six months.

Both were also banned from working at child-related institutions for five years.

Their sentences were reduced from six years and four years, respectively, in the first trial.

The mother, Kwon, who had previously been convicted as an accomplice to murder and given a suspended three-year sentence, was acquitted on appeal.

The court ruled that she may have believed the fetus had already died in utero and found insufficient evidence that she was aware the doctors would kill a live-born infant.

The court upheld the finding that Yoon and Shim performed a cesarean section in June 2024 when Kwon was 34 to 36 weeks pregnant, ...