A heartbroken dad from Washington State has issued a plea with South Korean officials to return his seven-year-old son who he alleged was kidnapped by his mother nearly five years ago.
Dr. Jay Sung, 43, an orthodontist from Seattle, Washington alleged that his estranged wife, Min Jung Cho, 42, abducted their son, Bryan, to South Korea and has refused numerous court orders to return their child to the United States.
The alleged abduction took place in 2019 after a judge granted his ex to take their son to South Korea for a few weeks, as part of the divorce proceedings, though he was the parent with legal custody.
The distraught father, who has been apart from his son for years, and hasn’t seen or spoken to him, said that his native South Korea ‘did nothing to protect’ his son, despite the pair having dual citizenships.
Cho had her United States citizenship revoked a year ago, and a state warrant has been out for her arrest that is still in effect since April 2020, as per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
After the ordeal, Jay filed a petition in 2019 under the Hague Convention -which governs international child abductions.
He explained that although both courts ruled in his favor, a loophole in the country’s law prevents him from from getting his son back.
Dr. Jay Sung, 43, hasn’t seen his son Bryan, now 7, since his mother, Min Jung Cho allegedly abducted him when he was three-years-old to South Korea
Sung said that his native South Korea ‘did nothing to protect his son.’ He is pictured holding up a sign #BringBackBryan outside the Korean Consulate in Seattle
Sung’s estranged wife, Min Jung Cho, 42, (pictured) allegedly snatched their young son to South Korea and has refused numerous court orders to return their child to the United States
Sung has been vocal about his cause to get his son back and launched the campaign #BringBackBryan.
He stood in protest outside of the Korean consulate holding up a sign and demanding the country help his cause.
The dental doctor told Fox News Digital that Korean courts have taken his side, and that his ex has exhausted her appeal, but a compliance loophole in the country’s law prevents law enforcement from seizing a child by force.
The boy’s further explained that Korean officials have declined to impose a court order for the release of his son. Despite, his ex being arrested twice and fined.
The doctor of dentistry said that his nightmare began five years ago, when Cho’s attorney called him a day before his son was scheduled to leave South Korea notifying him that his son will not be returning to the United States.
A missing person’s report was filed, but his son was eventually tracked down by South Korean police, who located the boy at his maternal’s grandmother’s house.
At that point, officials told Sung that the case needed to resolved in civil court.
Dr. Sung and his son, Bryan, pictured together when he was just a toddler
The father and son duo are seen backpacking along a wooded trail as the youngster smiles as he holds a flower they picked
State, federal and local officials have been trying to assist Sung, including Congresswoman Kim Schrier, the State Department and the FBI.
The State Department has called out South Korea for a ‘pattern of noncompliance’ under the Convention due to the country’s law enforcement services’ performance on court-ordered returns,’ as per the news outlet.
According to the State Department’s Action Report, the average time to resolve a child abduction in South Korea is just under three yearst.
Sung told the news outlet a number of lawmakers in South Korea have recognized that their system is flawed. He said hearings have been held and the group has started drafting reforms.