United Party's Kim Mi-ae: "Child Abuse Requires Solutions Beyond Temporary Outrage... Party Will Actively Engage"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Mi-ae, Emergency Response Committee member of the United Future Party, said on the 11th, "It is now time for us to respond to the pain of children who can only express themselves through crying," adding, "The party will actively create concrete measures."

At the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Kim said, "Recently, a serious child abuse case occurred that is hard for us to even imagine. It is heartbreaking and makes me feel sorry for the children that we discuss low birthrate policies while failing to properly care for children born in the Republic of Korea."

It is a rare sight for the United Future Party to mention children's rights in a party leadership meeting. Kim, who entered the 21st National Assembly, is a lawyer who has worked in the fields of women, children, and human rights, and has been active as a human rights expert, including founding a women’s specialized law firm.

She said, "In the past five years, 132 young lives have disappeared due to child abuse without being able to realize their dreams," adding, "This is not just a temporary public outrage; continuous attention to the blind spots of children's rights and a fundamental policy shift centered on children are necessary. Thorough fact-finding and a swift public discussion process are also required."

Kim emphasized that deeper attention should be paid not only to physical abuse but also to neglect and emotional abuse.

She said, "In particular, we need to pay attention to children who, despite having biological parents, are placed in foster care or group home facilities without receiving proper care." Kim added, "In one case I experienced, a single mother suffering from schizophrenia sent her newborn daughter to a facility immediately after birth and never visited her for seven years. In another case, a child was not visited for over ten years. We have not paid any attention to the emotional abuse these children suffer."

Referring to a Supreme Court ruling the day before, she said, "There was also a case where the mother refused to register the birth, making it impossible for the unmarried father to register the birth. Although some issues have been resolved by the Love Act, there are still cases in the Republic of Korea where children born cannot have their births registered," adding, "We will soon propose legislation on this matter."

Kim also stressed the need for support equivalent to that of facilities for unmarried fathers and mothers. She argued that parental rights should be recognized thoroughly with a focus on children's rights and welfare. She said, "Although there are provisions for loss of parental rights under the Civil Code, they have not been properly applied. Some children grow up without ever seeing their mother or father despite nominal parental rights," adding, "Now society must properly reflect on reality and enforce these provisions."

Kim emphasized, "We must end formal discussions and practically prepare concrete alternatives. The party will actively conduct fact-finding and work on related legal amendments."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.