"Do Not Even Hit with Flowers" Ulsan Child Abuse Victims Holding Candles

Ulsan Metropolitan City Hall [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Parents of child abuse victims in the Ulsan area held a candlelight vigil on the evening of the 19th, urging the establishment of fundamental measures against child abuse.

At the rally held in the square in front of Lotte Department Store Ulsan Branch, about 100 parents and groups attended, holding placards with phrases such as "Punish daycare center directors severely," "Protect the children," and "Do not hit children even with flowers," while chanting slogans.

Additionally, the victimized parents took turns speaking at the podium, expressing their feelings upon witnessing the abuse through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and asking citizens for their attention and support.

Previously, child abuse incidents occurred in all five districts and counties of the Ulsan area.

In Dong-gu, earlier last month, CCTV footage showing a childcare teacher stepping on a child's thigh and ankle with their foot and throwing the child by lifting the back of the neck because the child would not eat food at another daycare center was released, causing public outrage.

Also, on the 19th, which is the "Child Abuse Prevention Day," a childcare teacher at a daycare center in Dong-gu was suspected of hitting the head of a 4-year-old child with a spoon because the child was not eating well, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

As such, starting with Nam-gu in January, followed by Jung-gu in June, two cases in Dong-gu in September, and incidents in Ulju-gun and Dong-gu in October, child abuse cases have been occurring consecutively in Ulsan.

In response, on the 20th, Ulsan City announced that, together with the Ulsan City Daycare Center Association, it will promote additional measures to prevent child abuse in daycare centers following last month. The city plans to distribute casebooks on child abuse incidents related to childcare and educational facilities to daycare centers and negotiate to establish child protection teams in Dong-gu and Ulju-gun, where such teams do not currently exist.

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