Cheonan pastor arrested for child abuse resulting in death

Police in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, have arrested a pastor in his 60s on charges of child abuse resulting in death. The arrest follows the death of an 11-year-old boy who was found unconscious at a church on October 5.

The boy was transported to Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital after church officials reported he was ill, but he passed away approximately three hours later. Medical staff noted signs of abuse, including high fever and exhaustion, and alerted authorities. Witnesses reported that the child had been tied to a bed inside the church.

Investigations revealed that there had been four reports of suspected abuse involving the child since 2021, including two recent reports made by citizens who suspected maltreatment. The pastor is accused of abusing and neglecting the child, who had been living at the church for several years.