[Interview] "Children Cannot Speak Out About Abuse... Adults Must Be Their Voice" [Child Abuse SOS] ⑤

Jung Ikjung, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency
Calls for Increased Reporting to Enable Early Intervention

"There are many people who cry when they hear about child abuse, but very few who sweat alongside us to help."

Jung Ikjung, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at his office in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Jung Ikjung, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, said in an interview with Asia Economy at the agency's office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on May 13, 2025, "It is the responsibility of adults to speak out to resolve the issue of child abuse. When it comes to issues related to vulnerable groups, it is usually the affected individuals themselves who call for solutions, but abused children are unable to raise their voices directly."

He called for the attention of the 21st presidential candidates, including Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moonsu of the People Power Party, Lee Joonseok of the Reform Party, and Kwon Youngguk of the Democratic Labor Party. Director Jung said, "To prevent child abuse, provide treatment, prevent recurrence, and offer parental education, sufficient budgets and manpower must be secured. Although presidential candidates in the past have expressed interest in child abuse issues, this has not translated into substantial support."

Director Jung stressed the need to encourage early reporting as a way to intervene in child abuse cases. He said, "If you suspect that a child next door is being abused, you should report it immediately instead of thinking, 'It couldn't be.' The decision is not up to the person reporting. If there is no abuse, that is fortunate, and if there is abuse, the child can be saved."

He also emphasized that there is no need to be afraid, as strong protections are in place for those who report abuse. Director Jung said, "The identity and the act of reporting are strictly protected under the Child Abuse Punishment Act. In the past, the reporting process was very complicated, but now, you can simply report by calling 112."

Jung Ikjung, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at his office in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The following is a Q&A with Director Jung.

-What kind of activities does the Child Rights Protection Agency carry out?

▲The Child Rights Protection Agency was established in 2019 based on the Child Welfare Act as an institution supporting the development of child policies, including those related to abuse. The agency creates standardized case management guidelines for each family, ensuring that children across the country can be protected at the same level. For example, to prevent repeated abuse, the agency is running a pilot project called "Bangmun Ddokddok! Maeum Toktok!" where counselors visit families with a history of abuse. The agency also works to minimize differences in response among counselors that may arise from different regions or family environments.

-Reports of child abuse are on the rise.

▲This is a natural result, as society becomes more sensitive to abuse. Abuse is inherently a hidden crime, so how and by whom it is discovered is crucial. In this sense, the increase in reports is important. However, if you suspect abuse, you should report it without trying to judge the situation yourself.

-There are criticisms that punishments for child abusers are too lenient.

▲Child abusers are punished under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, not the Criminal Act. If we want to strengthen punishment, we could handle these cases under the Criminal Act. However, since most abusers are parents, they are both perpetrators and guardians. If guardians are punished and children are removed from the home, other problems may arise. Therefore, rather than simply strengthening punishment, it is more important to educate abusive parents to become better parents. This is why it is crucial to manage cases accurately to prevent repeated abuse.

-Recently, emotional abuse has been increasing more than physical abuse.

▲This is part of a global trend. In most countries, physical abuse is gradually decreasing. Emotional abuse includes not only threatening or swearing at a child, but also fighting between parents in front of the child. In fact, many parents are unaware that fighting in front of their child can constitute child abuse. This is why parental education is so important.

Jung Ikjung, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at his office in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-How can we ensure that abusive parents receive parental education?

▲In reality, there are more people who receive parental education to become better parents than those who do so because of wrongdoing. Some abusive parents have the attitude, "It's my child, I can do as I please." In this situation, making parental education mandatory could be considered. Becoming a parent is easy, but living up to the responsibilities of parenthood is difficult. In the past, all responsibility for raising children fell on parents alone, but that is no longer the case. Even looking at parental allowances and child benefits, the government is now involved in child-rearing to some extent. Therefore, it could be considered to suspend these benefits if parents do not receive parental education. Another approach is to require parental education when children leave the home environment to enter public childcare, such as kindergarten or elementary school.

-What is the most urgently needed child protection policy at present?

▲We need to establish a child abuse death analysis system. In countries like the United States and Japan, the Child Death Review (CDR) system analyzes the causes of child deaths and uses this information to develop policy recommendations. In contrast, South Korea lacks such a system, making it difficult to propose effective policies related to child deaths. In South Korea, three to four children die from child abuse every month. We must develop policies and prevention measures based on more thorough analysis of the causes of these deaths.

-Any final words?

▲I hope everyone will reflect seriously on what it means to become a parent. Many people mistakenly believe, "I would never abuse a child," but it is important to recognize that anyone could become an abuser and to continually self-examine. I hope this will lead to greater interest in parental education.

※ With the revision of the Civil Act, even parents do not have the right to physically punish children. Anyone who inflicts physical, emotional, or sexual abuse on a child can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. If you suspect child abuse, report it to 112. If you are experiencing difficulties with child-rearing or support, consult 129 (Health and Welfare Counseling Center).