Pastor's toddler found wandering parking lot, parents arrested

An associate church pastor and his wife face charges after Alpharetta police said the parents left their three young children home alone while they went to church.

Jongkyu Kim, 37, and his wife, Myunghwah Jeong, 35, face reckless conduct charges stemming from the Jan. 26 incident.

According to a police report obtained by Channel 2's Mike Petchenik, a neighbor found the couple's toddler son roaming the parking lot of their Wittenridge Drive townhome complex. The report said the child was wearing "adult shoes" and was visibly upset and crying.

When officers arrived, they found the door to the family's townhome open and older siblings asleep inside, police said.

Kim told police he and his wife left the children alone just before 6 a.m. so they could go to pray at their church, Sae Han Presbyterian Church, on Kimball Bridge Road.

"Mr. Kim said, while praying at the church, something came over him (as something was wrong) and he and his wife left, to go back home to check on the kids," the report said. "When they arrived home they observed the front door to their (sic) home open.

Church members wouldn't go on camera, but told Petchenik that the couple were "good people" and "good parents," and they indicated it's possible a cultural barrier may have led to them leaving thechildren home alone.

Neighbors told Petchenik they were conceed about the allegations.

"Leaving your kids alone, you deserve to be arrested," Trish McNeal said. "I think they ought to take their kids to church and let them play at the children's church."

The police report indicated the church's senior pastor had taken the children into custody.

McNeal said she was hopeful the couple could get their children back.

"Maybe they can lea their lesson, get their kids back, and make better judgments in the future," she said.