Washington Father's Desperate Plea to South Korea for Kidnapped Son's Return

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• Dr. Jay Sung alleges his estranged wife, Min Jung Cho, abducted their son Bryan to South Korea in 2019 and has not complied with court orders for his return.
• Sung, granted full custody in both countries, filed a petition under the Hague Convention but is hindered by a legal loophole in South Korea.
• Sung's efforts include a #BringBackBryan campaign and protests outside the Korean Consulate in Seattle, but South Korean law enforcement has been unable to enforce the court-ordered return.

In a distressing case that highlights international legal complexities, Dr. Jay Sung, a 43-year-old orthodontist from Seattle, Washington, is pleading for the return of his seven-year-old son, Bryan, who was allegedly kidnapped by his mother, Min Jung Cho, in 2019.

Despite obtaining full custody in both South Korea and the United States, Sung claims South Korea has failed to protect his son or enforce the custody decision.

The ordeal began when a judge allowed Cho to take Bryan to South Korea temporarily during their divorce proceedings, despite Sung having legal custody. Since then, Sung has been separated from his son, who holds dual citizenship, and South Korea's actions, or lack thereof, have been a significant point of contention. Cho's U.S. citizenship was revoked, and a state arrest warrant has been in effect since April 2020. Despite rulings in Sung's favor and Cho facing legal consequences in South Korea, including arrests and fines, a loophole in the country's law prevents enforcement agencies from forcibly retrieving the child.

The situation has drawn attention from state, federal, and local U.S. officials, including Congresswoman Kim Schrier, the State Department, and the FBI. The State Department has criticized South Korea for its 'pattern of noncompliance' under the Hague Convention, citing poor performance by law enforcement in enforcing court-ordered returns. According to the State Department, the average resolution time for child abduction cases in South Korea is nearly three years. Sung notes that some South Korean lawmakers recognize flaws in their system, with hearings and potential legal reforms underway.

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