Bucheon City Establishes 'Child Protection Team'... Strengthening Public Responsibility in Child Protection System

Bucheon City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The city of Bucheon in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 13th that it has established a new 'Child Protection Team' dedicated to child abuse and protection.

This move is in response to the revision and enforcement of the 'Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes,' recognizing the seriousness of child abuse issues and aiming to strengthen public responsibility.

The Child Protection Team consists of 11 members, including 8 public officials specializing in child abuse and 3 dedicated child protection personnel, who will professionally and promptly handle child abuse-related tasks to enhance public accountability.

When a suspected child abuse report is received through 112, the dedicated public officials will immediately dispatch to the scene with the police to ▲ assess whether child abuse has occurred ▲ establish a protection plan for the victimized child ▲ decide on protection of the original family or placement in foster care or guardianship.

The Bucheon Child Protection Agency, which previously conducted child abuse investigations, will now focus on in-depth case management for victimized children.

The city plans to quickly establish and solidify a comprehensive safety net for child protection services by strengthening the capabilities of dedicated public officials and improving related systems.

Mayor Jang Deokcheon stated, "As the authority and responsibility of local governments are strengthened, we will do our best to prevent child abuse and protect victimized children to create a Bucheon where children can grow up safely."