[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Allegations have been raised that Saengmyeong-ui Saem Church, located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, operated an illegal child welfare facility and verbally and physically abused infants and toddlers.
The International Child Rights Center and others submitted a complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 12th, stating, "At Saengmyeong-ui Saem Church, it was confirmed that workers without qualifications related to childcare and welfare were employed, and infants and toddlers were routinely neglected."
According to the organizations, Saengmyeong-ui Saem Church has been raising about 10 infants under the age of two since May 2019. They claimed that the church operated the facility without reporting to local authorities, and if these allegations are true, it would violate the Child Welfare Act and the Social Welfare Services Act.
They alleged, "Crying children were locked in rooms for hours alone to 'exorcise evil spirits,' or sometimes their entire bodies were beaten while praying for hours."
While neglecting children who needed treatment, they provided poor-quality food and allowed 'self-feeding,' which posed a risk of suffocation, failing to properly care for the children. They also claimed that around June last year, a child directly cared for by the pastor died from suffocation.
The organizations estimated that the facility admitted children abandoned in baby boxes without official procedures. They also explained that unqualified childcare and welfare workers were employed, and volunteers whose identities were not verified were recruited online to care for infants and toddlers.
The groups urged the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seocho-gu, and investigative agencies to "swiftly and safely rescue and support abused children in unregistered facilities and severely punish the perpetrators." They also demanded that the Ministry of Health and Welfare identify all unregistered facilities nationwide and urgently rescue children. They planned to meet with Seocho-gu Mayor Jo Eun-hee on the same day.
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