Teen daughter arrested after scalding mother during argument over leaving home

A teenage girl in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, has been arrested by police on charges of special aggravated assault against her mother. The incident occurred around 12:50 a.m. on August 15, when the daughter allegedly poured boiling water from an electric kettle onto her mother.

According to police reports, the altercation stemmed from a disagreement over the daughter's intention to leave their home and stay with an acquaintance. When the mother attempted to prevent her daughter from leaving, confiscating her mobile phone in the process, a verbal argument ensued. The situation escalated dramatically when the daughter resorted to using the boiling water.

The mother sustained second-degree burns to her head and legs. She was transported to a hospital for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition, with no life-threatening injuries.

The daughter, identified as Ms. K, is over the age of criminal responsibility in South Korea, meaning she is not considered a juvenile offender (chobok소년) who falls below the age of 14. Police have placed her under emergency hospitalization to separate her from her mother while they continue to investigate the full circumstances of the incident.