Assemblywoman Yang Hyang-ja: "4th Supplementary Budget Includes 4.7 Billion Won for At-Risk Child Protection"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Yang Hyang-ja, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Seo-gu Eul), announced on the 22nd that an additional budget of 4.7 billion KRW for protecting children in crisis was included in the 4th supplementary budget.

On the same day, an agreement on the 4th supplementary budget was announced based on consensus among the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, stating that "a budget will be reflected for strengthening counseling facilities to protect children in blind spots, expanding psychological treatment infrastructure, and early deployment of dedicated child protection personnel."

Specifically, the budget includes ▲2.1 billion KRW for expanding psychological treatment infrastructure for abused children ▲2.4 billion KRW for reinforcing child abuse counseling and investigation facilities in cities, counties, and districts ▲100 million KRW for early deployment of dedicated child protection personnel in cities, counties, and districts ▲100 million KRW for enhancing the functions of the National Child Abuse Information System.

With the addition of the budget for children in crisis following support for communication fees and vaccines, the government’s emergency support to eliminate blind spots in childcare has become possible.

Rep. Yang said, “Through this supplementary budget, infrastructure such as psychological treatment tools will be expanded in child protection agencies nationwide, and outdated system equipment will be reinforced. Also, personnel will be promptly assigned to 53 cities, counties, and districts where dedicated child protection personnel had not been deployed, and counseling rooms will be established, which is expected to significantly strengthen the rescue and protection of abused children.”

Regarding overall child policies, she added, “It is urgent to unify and provide stable support for child-related budgets, which have so far been supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s general account, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance’s lottery fund, and the Ministry of Justice’s crime victim protection fund. Also, the child and youth data currently operated separately by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Health and Welfare need to be efficiently integrated and managed.”

Meanwhile, Yang Hyang-ja, who serves as a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Budget and Accounts Committee, and head of the party’s Livelihood Economy Task Force, has prioritized “prevention of child abuse and support for families in crisis” as a top livelihood task.

Starting with her remarks at the party’s Supreme Council meeting on the 18th, she has actively engaged in legislative activities by expressing the party’s determination to eradicate child abuse through the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee’s plenary meeting on the same day and through the media thereafter.