Despite CCTV, Repeated Childcare Center Abuse... What Is the Problem?

Teacher Abuses Children Again at Public Childcare Center
Forcing Food, Pulling and Shaking Hair
Expert Says "Urgent Need for Abuse Prevention Education for Teachers"

File photo. Two teachers at a public daycare center in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, were reported for abusing children, prompting a police investigation. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Another case of a daycare teacher habitually assaulting and abusing children has sparked public outrage. Although it has been six years since the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in daycare centers was made mandatory, concerns are rising that CCTV alone is not a fundamental solution to preventing abuse. Experts emphasize the need to improve child abuse prevention education for childcare teachers.

According to media reports on the 21st, two teachers at a public daycare center in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, are under investigation after reports of child abuse were filed.

Teacher A is suspected of habitually hitting and force-feeding 14 children aged 2 and 3 under their care. Teacher B, who works in the same class, is reported to have been complicit by ignoring Teacher A’s abusive behavior.

The abuse was uncovered on the 11th when a parent, after hearing their child say "the teacher hit me," visited the daycare and reviewed the CCTV footage. The footage reportedly shows Teacher A physically abusing children by stepping on them and shaking them by the hair. Emotional abuse was also observed, including forcing children to eat until they vomited and placing insect-shaped toys inside their clothes, which the children disliked.

The mother of a victim, Ms. C, expressed her anger in an interview with SBS, saying, "(The abusive teacher) kept tilting my child's neck back while force-feeding for about a minute. Even as my child vomited, the teacher made them eat again. Eventually, my child cried uncontrollably."

After reviewing the CCTV footage with parents, the daycare director reported Teachers A and B to the police on the 11th and recommended their resignation. The police plan to transfer the case to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Child Special Investigation Team after analyzing the CCTV footage.

Childcare teachers at a daycare center in Seo-gu, Incheon, grilling meat. The children are sitting on mats watching videos on laptops. These childcare teachers are accused of abusing 10 children./Photo by Yonhap News

The shocking child abuse case has stirred public outrage. One netizen expressed anger, saying, "I know taking care of children is not an easy job, but as a parent, I feel anxious and angry about sending my child to a facility due to repeated child abuse incidents."

This year alone, there have been multiple cases of child abuse by daycare teachers and directors in various regions such as Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, and Daejeon. Most of these abusive acts were fully captured on CCTV installed in the facilities. As a result, some argue that CCTV alone cannot fundamentally resolve child abuse issues.

The installation of CCTV in daycare centers was mandated in 2015 following an amendment to the Infant Care Act. Additionally, guardians have the right to view original CCTV footage to ensure their child's safety.

However, the number of reported child abuse cases has steadily increased since 2015. According to the Child Rights Protection Agency, the number of child abuse incidents in daycare centers rose from 432 cases in 2015 to 1,371 cases in 2019, more than tripling. This is why relying solely on CCTV installation is not enough to ensure safety.

A 20-year-old named Kim, who identified as a daycare teacher, said, "Even with CCTV, since it is exposed for long periods, people rarely remain conscious of it in daily life. Child abuse ultimately comes down to the teacher's character," adding, "The sense of alertness dulls, so these incidents tend to happen repeatedly."

Experts stress the need to improve child abuse prevention education for childcare teachers.

Gong Hyejeong, president of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, explained, "Even with CCTV, why do abusers still commit child abuse? They are often not conscious of their actions at the moment. People cannot stay constantly alert, so abusive behavior can occur habitually and unconsciously." She continued, "The reason child abuse cases keep increasing is due to changes in awareness. Sensitivity to child abuse has risen, and behaviors that were not previously considered abuse are now being reported."

President Gong emphasized, "Therefore, abuse prevention education for teachers is even more necessary. Many abusers are in their 40s and 50s, and sometimes they abuse not because they dislike children but because they do not realize their actions constitute abuse. In the past, such behavior was not considered abuse. But now, these actions can be abusive. Education must be strengthened on which behaviors can hurt children, cause emotional abuse, or constitute sexual harassment or molestation."

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