Burning a Child's Hand with a Frying Pan... Could the Cruel Child Abuse Have Been Prevented?

Changnyeong Child Abuse Household... Registered as a 'Happiness e-um' At-Risk Family Earlier This Year
Field Investigations Not Properly Conducted Due to COVID-19 Situation
Under Current Law, Difficult to Determine Recurrence of Child Abuse if Parents with Custody and Parental Rights Refuse Access

A(9), an elementary school student in Changnyeong, Gyeongnam, who was reportedly abused by her stepfather and biological mother, is seen talking with the first reporter (left) at a convenience store in Changnyeong on the 29th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Recently, brutal child abuse cases have occurred consecutively in Cheonan, Chungnam, and Changnyeong, Gyeongnam, sparking public outrage. Criticism is emerging that the authorities failed to prevent child abuse despite their management. As the controversy grows, the government announced plans to establish more fundamental measures to prevent abuse. Experts emphasize the urgent need for specialized personnel to manage child safety.

According to police investigations, A (9), a victim of child abuse in Changnyeong who suffered various abuses including burns from a frying pan since 2018, was abused by her stepfather and biological mother from the age of three.

It has been found that the local government was aware of this but took no significant action regarding A. According to Changnyeong County, this family was registered as a crisis household earlier this year in the 'Happiness e-Eum' system operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

This system analyzes about 40 types of information such as school attendance to identify suspected abuse households in advance and notifies local governments. When designated as a crisis household, child welfare officials from the jurisdiction visit the suspected abuse household to investigate the abuse.

However, Changnyeong County reportedly did not conduct an on-site investigation due to a request from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to refrain from visits amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why criticism arises that the government's measures to prevent child abuse were not properly implemented.

B (9), who was trapped in a travel bag by his stepmother in her 40s, being transported to a nearby hospital on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News

Following the revelation of the brutal abuse case involving a 9-year-old girl, criticism is also directed at inadequate responses by related facilities in the child abuse case that occurred in Cheonan, Chungnam.

The victim, B (9), was confined in a travel bag by his stepmother and was transferred to a hospital on the 1st, where he died. It is known that about a month before his death, he was treated at a hospital for a head injury.

At that time, medical staff suspected child abuse upon seeing the wounds on B's body and reported it to the police. Subsequently, the police investigated the parents, and the Child Protection Agency counseled the victim child. The parents admitted to some corporal punishment, but since B did not want to be separated from his father, the child was ultimately returned to the abusive household.

The reason child abuse cases are not resolved early is that if the parents, who may be the perpetrators, refuse home visits or counseling calls, there is practically no way to confirm the safety of the victim child.

As a result, child abuse cases continue to increase despite government management. According to the '2018 National Child Abuse Status' by the Central Child Protection Agency under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the total number of child abuse cases in 2018 was 24,604, an increase of 2,237 cases (10%) compared to the previous year. The numbers have risen annually: 11,715 in 2015, 18,700 in 2016, and 22,367 in 2017.

The number of children who suffered re-abuse after previous abuse was recorded as 1,591 in 2016, 2,160 in 2017, and 2,543 in 2018.

Stepfather accused of child abuse in Changnyeong moving to the annex interrogation room of Changnyeong Police Station, Gyeongnam, on the morning of the 13th [Image source=Yonhap News]

Given this situation, the government has taken steps to establish more practical measures to eradicate child abuse. On the 12th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a Social Relations Ministers' Meeting and discussed 'Child Abuse Prevention Measures,' deciding to conduct a full survey on the whereabouts and safety of 3-year-old children being raised at home without attending daycare centers or kindergartens.

She also announced plans to re-examine child abuse cases reported from February to May recently and to take strict action if re-abuse cases are found. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo stated, "The government will immediately implement all possible measures to ensure that shocking child abuse cases like those in Cheonan and Changnyeong never happen again in our society, and will prepare more fundamental and comprehensive improvement plans by the end of August."

Experts suggest that institutions on the front lines of protecting abused children must be staffed with personnel who possess expertise and sensitivity to child abuse.

Gong Hye-jung, President of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, pointed out, "In the Cheonan child abuse case, the abused child’s wish to return home was prioritized, resulting in the child being sent back to the abusive household," and added, "There is a need for work guidelines that prioritize the child's safety over the child's opinion."

She continued, "It may take some time to amend laws and systems related to child abuse cases. Therefore, the most urgent matter is to change the personnel who can protect children on the front lines," emphasizing, "Personnel with sensitivity, expertise, and responsibility in handling child abuse cases are needed above all."

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