Former Athlete Beats 11-Year-Old Son To Death, Mother’s Unexpected Reaction Sparks Fury

A heartbreaking case in South Korea has triggered public outrage after a former high school baseball player was revealed to have beaten his 11-year-old son to death with a metal baseball bat — and the boy’s biological mother pleaded for leniency.

The incident occurred on January 16 in Incheon. The father reportedly used an aluminum bat to hit his son repeatedly after the child failed to complete his homework. Despite the brutal nature of the assault, prosecutors at the Incheon District Court requested only a 10-year prison sentence during a sentencing hearing held on April 22.

According to the prosecution, the father struck the boy’s body, excluding only the head, with such force that the child attempted to protect himself with his hands and ran into a closet to escape. The injuries left the boy covered in bruises and ultimately led to his death.

The National Forensic Service confirmed that there was a direct link between the assault and the child’s death. The man, who weighs around 100 kg and stands 180 cm tall, was accused of using his strength to carry out a relentless beating. Despite this, he told investigators that he had remained “calm and in control” while “disciplining” his son.

Regardless of the outcome, I know the method I used was wrong. The pain of losing my only son is unbearable, and I live with it every day. But I still have my young daughters and other family members, so I want to keep living for them. I sincerely ask for leniency—for the sake of my children.

— The former athlete

What shocked many even further was the reaction of the boy’s biological mother, who appeared in court and stated she did not wish for the father to be punished. She claimed she didn’t notice any bruises on her son because he was wearing long sleeves and pants at the time, and said her daughters, especially the youngest, continued to ask for their father and missed him.

When I returned home after going out, my son was wearing long sleeves and pants, so I didn’t notice any bruises. His skin is very pale, so I didn’t recognize anything was wrong. I do not want him to be punished. Our daughters keep asking where he is, and our youngest, who has a close bond with him, keeps saying, ‘I miss Dad.’

— The boy’s mother

The final sentencing is scheduled for May 15. Meanwhile, many online have expressed frustration at both the mother’s stance and the perceived light sentence.

• “What’s up with the biological mom, seriously?”
• “Like he never skipped homework as a kid himself.”
• “What’s wrong with the mom? If it were me, I’d want to kill that bastard… He beat his own son to death and only got 10 years? What the hell.”
• “They’re giving him 10 years?? Not even 20??”
• “Who is this?”