Discussion on Increasing Statutory Penalties for Child Abduction... "Walking School Bus" to Expand Nationwide

"Lenient Punishments Cited as Cause of Crime"
Bill to Set Minimum Statutory Sentences Submitted to National Assembly
"Walking School Bus" Program to Be Expanded Nationwide

The government is moving to raise statutory penalties in an effort to eradicate the recent surge in crimes involving the abduction and enticement of children. Policies currently being implemented in select regions to ensure a safe environment for children commuting to and from school will be expanded nationwide.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the "Comprehensive Measures to Ensure the Safety of Children on Their Way to and from School" on November 11.

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, is seen leaving after a joint briefing on comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of children on their way to and from school to prevent the abduction and luring of minors at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on November 11, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, held a briefing at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, stating, "In the early stages of these incidents, the government, led by the police, significantly increased patrols around elementary schools, and related ministries have repeatedly discussed more fundamental measures. The government, schools, and local communities will join forces to strengthen the safety net for children on their way to and from school."

Previously, after an attempted abduction near an elementary school in Seodaemun-gu in August, similar incidents occurred across the country, heightening public anxiety. In September, President Lee Jaemyung ordered that "swift investigations and thorough countermeasures be ensured for child abduction and enticement cases so that public concerns regarding student safety are alleviated."

The government has prepared 24 tasks based on three principles: strict response, raising public awareness, and creating a safe environment.

First, the government will strengthen penalties, which have been cited as a factor in the spread of these crimes. Under current law, abduction and enticement crimes carry only an upper limit of up to 10 years in prison, and the sentencing guidelines are not high, leading to criticism that statutory penalties are too low given the severity of the offenses. Minister Yoon stated, "For serious crimes, we will actively support legislative discussions on not only disclosing the identities of offenders but also raising statutory penalties and strengthening sentencing guidelines." Currently, a bill is pending in the National Assembly to increase the statutory penalty to "imprisonment for not less than three years" or "not less than one year and not more than 15 years."

In addition, the government will adopt a "zero tolerance policy" for child abduction and enticement crimes. Reports related to children will be handled with greater rigor throughout the response, management, and closure stages. When a report of the abduction or enticement of a minor is received, both local police and detectives from the violent crimes unit will be dispatched simultaneously. Previously, such cases could be closed at the scene, but going forward, a joint review committee must be convened before closure. The chief of police will directly oversee major cases.

Policies to protect children on their way to and from school will be expanded nationwide. The "Student Commute Notification Service," currently available primarily for lower grades, will be expanded to include all grades from fourth to sixth. This service provides real-time notifications to guardians regarding students' commuting status and is currently being piloted in regions such as North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces.

The "Walking School Bus," which supports safe commutes home for students traveling in the same direction with the help of guidance staff, will also be expanded nationwide. This initiative will utilize the senior employment program operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and is planned for expansion next year.

To eliminate blind spots in child protection, the government will promote the installation of additional CCTV cameras and introduce intelligent monitoring systems. In addition to child protection zones, priority areas for installation will be determined based on regional differences and student traffic, with 5 billion won from the Special Disaster and Safety Grant to be provided within the year. When a child is in danger, the intelligent monitoring system will analyze specific situations, behaviors, and attributes captured by cameras using AI and immediately relay the information.

Preventive education for children will be expanded to include experiential learning so they can respond to real-life situations, utilizing mock scenario role-playing and safety club activities.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and related agencies will conduct a nationwide campaign through November 21 to raise awareness about abduction and enticement crimes and provide items such as personal alarms. On this day, Minister Yoon personally demonstrated the use of a personal alarm. Kim Yonggyun, Director of the Safety Prevention Policy Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "We are collaborating with 11 private companies and, if necessary, can match with local governments. Each local government will also secure separate budgets to ensure ongoing support for children."