Yeongam-gun, Immediate Implementation of Separation System to Strengthen Early Response to 'Child Abuse'

Strengthening the Child Abuse Response System and Establishing a Public-Centered Child Protection System

Yeongam-gun Office Building Exterior (Photo by Yeongam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Jeon Dong-pyeong) announced on the 21st that it is thoroughly promoting public-centered child abuse investigation work to strengthen the national responsibility for child abuse, which has recently become a social issue.

Last October, the county was selected as a leading area for strengthening the public nature of child abuse investigation work and assigned two public officials dedicated to child abuse and one child protection officer.

The child protection officer establishes protection plans for children who require protective measures (such as foster care, adoption, or facilities), regularly checks the children's caregiving status, manages cases, and provides necessary support. The public officials dedicated to child abuse operate a 24-hour emergency hotline and immediately accompany the police upon receiving child abuse reports to promptly conduct on-site investigations and related tasks.

Additionally, when strong suspicion of child abuse arises during on-site visits, the immediate separation system (introduced on March 30, 2021) allows children to be separated immediately and admitted to temporary protection facilities, shelters for abused children, or temporarily placed in suitable foster homes until protective measures are taken. In Yeongam-gun, Yeong-ae-won (a child care facility) has been designated as a facility capable of providing temporary protection, and a dedicated medical institution that can provide emergency medical support for abused children has been appointed. The county has established an organic cooperation system with related facilities to promote the early settlement of the immediate separation system and strengthen the initial response to child abuse cases on-site.

A Yeongam-gun official stated, “Going forward, we plan to form an information linkage consultative body with Yeongam Police Station, Yeongam Office of Education, and the Western Jeonnam Child Protection Agency to share information on child abuse response and establish a protection system, thereby strengthening public responsibility for child protection and prioritizing the rights and safety of children.”