Four Cases of Abuse Confirmed in Full Survey of 3-Year-Old Children... Welfare Services Linked to 383 Children

Confirmed Neglect and Emotional Abuse Managed by Local Governments and Protection Agencies
13 Cases of Missing Residents Investigated by Police Stations Due to Absence

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Police Agency announced on the 27th that, as a result of a full survey to verify the whereabouts and safety of three-year-old children (born in 2017) residing in Korea, four cases suspected of domestic abuse were identified.

This full survey was conducted from October last year to February this year, targeting a total of 26,251 children. Public officials in charge at the Eup, Myeon, and Dong community centers visited the children's residences in person to investigate their childcare and emotional conditions. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, some households reluctant to allow visits were checked through vaccine certificates or video calls with the children as alternative methods.

During this process, four children showed signs suspected of abuse, prompting joint investigations by child abuse dedicated officials, child protection agency staff, and the police to determine whether abuse had occurred. Among them, three cases were judged as neglect (2 cases) and emotional abuse (1 case), while the investigation for the remaining one case is still ongoing.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare explained, "For the three children judged to have been abused, after consultations with their parents, a protection plan for the affected children was established through the local government’s integrated case management meetings or the Child Welfare Deliberation Committee. Accordingly, while protecting the children in their original homes, local governments and child protection agencies are conducting case management including education, counseling, and provision of necessary services."

Additionally, the Ministry requested police investigations for 13 cases where it was difficult to ascertain the whereabouts and safety of children due to the absence of guardians at their residences. The whereabouts and safety of all 13 children were confirmed. Furthermore, welfare services necessary for childcare, such as applying for welfare benefits or providing daily necessities, were linked to a total of 383 children from vulnerable families.

For example, in one multicultural family where stable childcare was not provided due to parental divorce and the child showed psychological difficulties such as behavioral problems and delayed language acquisition, basic housing benefits, home language education, and food support were provided. In another family complaining of unsanitary living conditions and economic difficulties, basic livelihood security benefit screening procedures were conducted along with support through donated goods, study materials linkage services, and programs to help parents achieve self-reliance.

Baek Geum-ju, Director of Population and Child Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, emphasized, "The significance of this full survey lies in the ability to proactively conduct counseling for children and their families in suspected abuse cases discovered." She added, "We will continue to strengthen public responsibility at all stages of early detection and protection of child abuse and actively promote preventive policies such as spreading awareness of positive parenting."

The full survey of three-year-old children has been conducted annually from October to December since 2019 to prevent child abuse and to connect administrative and financial support related to childcare when necessary. All children are subject to the survey except those attending kindergartens or daycare centers, who are already within the public childcare system, or those residing overseas. In October to December this year, a full survey will be conducted for children born in 2018.