People Power Party "Establish New Child Abuse Murder Crime and Greatly Ease Prosecutor's Indictment Requirements"

Immediate Family Separation Upon First Child Abuse Report
Dedicated Officials and Special Judicial Police Assigned
Perpetrators Among Institution Workers Publicly Disclosed and Barred from Reemployment
One-Stop Integrated Support Through 'Haetbit Center'

On the 11th of last month, two days before the first trial of the Jeong-in case, in which the adopted child died after 16 months of abuse by adoptive parents, a condolence wreath was placed in front of the fence of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. It was sent by members of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, urging the application of murder charges against the adoptive mother and commemorating Jeong-in. From 8 a.m. on that day until 1 p.m. on the 15th, they installed 70 condolence wreaths and 50 pinwheels on the fence of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The People Power Party announced on the 22nd that it will establish a system to immediately separate children who have suffered abuse from their original families, grant special judicial police authority to public officials dedicated to child abuse cases, and significantly ease the prosecution requirements for the prosecution. They also plan to create a new crime of child abuse homicide and discuss measures to disclose the identity and block reemployment if the perpetrator is an institutional worker.

On the same day, Lee Jong-bae, the policy committee chairman of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly and announced the comprehensive child abuse eradication plan, "Five Promises to Protect Our Children." This plan was prepared as a result of a joint meeting held in January with standing committees, special committees, and experts related to child abuse.

First, to strengthen initial response, the system will be improved to allow immediate separation regardless of the number of child abuse reports until the return to the original family is confirmed. Most child abuse cases are difficult to detect externally, and although there may be only one report, it has been pointed out that it is difficult to verify how much abuse has occurred before that. After separation, the plan is to significantly expand shelters and protection facilities for abused children.

To enable active response on-site after a report, the party is considering granting special judicial police authority to public officials dedicated to child abuse cases and plans to amend related laws to ensure that police and child abuse public officials always accompany each other during on-site dispatch. To systematize the response further, they will also pursue legal amendments to establish an integrated support center called the "Sunlight Center." The Sunlight Center will bring together local governments, police, child protection agencies, and medical institutions in one space to provide support from medical care to investigation, legal services, counseling, and protection all at once.

Lee Jong-bae, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is attending the video conference meeting of the party's floor strategy held at the National Assembly on the 15th of last month, delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Since most child abuse cases occur within the home and there are particular difficulties in securing evidence, the prosecution requirements for child abuse cases will be significantly eased. They will also promote strengthening penalties such as establishing the crime of child abuse homicide and abolishing the statute of limitations. The policy committee chairman explained the purpose, saying, "Most child abuse cases occur within the home, and there are particular difficulties in securing evidence, making it practically difficult to punish child abuse perpetrators, and cases of re-abuse also occur."

Additionally, if the perpetrator is a daycare center institutional worker, they will actively consider measures to disclose their identity and fundamentally block reemployment.

The People Power Party requested active cooperation from the Democratic Party of Korea. The policy committee chairman said, "Until now, our society has only momentarily expressed public outrage when child abuse cases occur and hastily presented temporary and fragmented measures. It is necessary to raise sensitivity to child abuse and strengthen the state's public responsibility."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party will hold an on-site meeting at the Child Rights Protection Agency at 11 a.m. on the same day to inspect the actual conditions of child abuse.

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