Establishment of 'Child Protection Team' in Gangdong-gu

Integrated Investigation of Child Abuse and Child Protection Services... Establishing Systematic Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) established a Child Protection Team dedicated to investigating child abuse and child protection duties as of July 1, 2020.

With the amendment to the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes passed by the National Assembly last March, local governments will be responsible for investigating child abuse cases starting this October.

Accordingly, Gangdong-gu plans to directly carry out child protection duties with strengthened public responsibility by establishing a Child Protection Team within the Child and Youth Division, staffed with specialized personnel.

By September, the district will assign two public officials dedicated to child abuse and hire three child protection officers, completing preliminary preparations such as mandatory child protection training, and will begin full-scale operations from October.

The Child Protection Team will develop protection plans for children who cannot receive parental care due to issues such as divorce or abuse, and will directly handle child abuse investigations, protection of victimized children, and follow-up management, tasks previously performed by specialized child protection agencies.

Additionally, to prevent recurrence of abuse after victimized children return to their original families, the team plans to establish a guidance and management system including case management and follow-up inspections.

Furthermore, the team will conduct child abuse prevention publicity campaigns under thematic slogans such as "Wise Parenting Life," "Wise Neighbor Life," and "Wise Child Life," and recruit a "Child Abuse Prevention Activity Support Group" composed of local residents to gather and implement prevention measures proposed directly by them.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, "The recent consecutive child abuse incidents are personally heartbreaking and weigh heavily on my mind. Through the newly established dedicated team, the district will do its utmost in child protection duties to uphold principles that prioritize children's rights with responsibility and expertise."

Gangdong-gu, certified as a "Child-Friendly City" by the UNICEF Korea Committee in 2017, is accelerating efforts to create a happy city where children want to live by establishing the "Child and Youth Future Headquarters" that guarantees children's rights to rest and play, and operating the "Child Participation Group" to promote children's participation rights in local governance.