Seoul City's Strengthened 'Public Response to Child Abuse' After 1 Year... 2,188 Cases Proactively Addressed Including Investigation Requests

Seoul's Measures to Strengthen Child Abuse Prevention and Response System... One-Year Progress Report
97 Dedicated Child Abuse Officers Recruited... Seoul and Police Agency Collaborate from Detection to Investigation and Protection
41 Designated 'Child Abuse Specialized Medical Institutions' Operated, Leading Nationwide Expansion... Protection Facilities Expanded to 10

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Over the course of one year since Seoul City strengthened child abuse prevention and public response measures, it conducted a full survey of 35,470 high-risk children in cooperation with the National Police Agency. Among them, 2,121 cases received preemptive actions such as 5 cases referred for investigation, 22 abuse reports, and linkage to welfare services. In addition, Seoul designated and operated eight “Metropolitan Child Abuse Dedicated Medical Institutions” and hub medical institutions available 24 hours a day, including nights, weekends, and emergency situations, achieving expansion nationwide through a pilot project by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

On the 18th, Seoul City announced the results of one year of child abuse response efforts following the announcement of measures to strengthen child abuse prevention and response systems last year. The city focused its efforts on publicizing the child abuse response system, expanding related infrastructure, and establishing cooperative systems with related organizations to enhance initial response capabilities.

First, with the strengthening of public responsibility so that public officials, rather than private organizations (Child Protection Agencies), conduct on-site investigations upon child abuse reports, Seoul has increased the number of dedicated child abuse public officials and continuously worked to enhance the capabilities of response personnel. The number of dedicated child abuse public officials in autonomous districts increased from 79 in May last year to 97 currently, with plans to add 4 more this year. To enable rapid 24-hour on-site response, dedicated vehicles and recording equipment were provided to each autonomous district, and working conditions will be continuously improved to encourage long-term service.

Furthermore, Seoul City signed a business agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to establish a joint response system covering the entire process from early detection of abused children, rapid judgment of abuse, to protection of victimized children, focusing on child-centered abuse prevention and response. As close cooperation among child abuse response agencies became increasingly important, a joint training program between autonomous districts and police was piloted in five autonomous districts with the National Police Agency last October and expanded to all autonomous districts this year. In addition to joint training, customized job training for child abuse response personnel is being strengthened and conducted.

Designation and Operation of 41 Child Abuse Dedicated Medical Institutions... Expansion to 10 Protection Facilities

Seoul City has made significant improvements to the child abuse on-site response system centered on victimized children and promoted strengthened protective measures. As the first in the nation to designate and support the operation of hub medical institutions, Seoul presented a role model for child abuse dedicated medical institutions, leading to the nationwide spread of the “Activation of Child Abuse Dedicated Medical Institutions” through the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s pilot project.

A “Seoul-type Child Abuse Judgment Meeting” involving experts was also established to ensure objectivity in judging child abuse cases, and it has been held 518 times to date. By having experts such as doctors, lawyers, and clinical psychologists participate in abuse judgments?previously conducted by dedicated public officials at the abuse site?the professionalism and objectivity of abuse judgments have been enhanced. Detailed assessments of hidden physical injuries or emotional abuse are also supported.

To ensure the rapid and safe protection of abused children, the number of child protection facilities was expanded to 10, and the case management expertise of Child Protection Agencies was strengthened to support children’s swift recovery. Due to the increase in child abuse reports and the implementation of the immediate separation system, the number of children requiring emergency measures has risen. Accordingly, two additional child protection facilities were established last year, operating a total of 10 facilities (3 temporary protection facilities and 7 shelters for abused children), with one more facility scheduled to open in July.

Preemptive Measures Including 2,188 Cases Referred for Investigation Through Full Survey and Monitoring of At-Risk Children

Seoul City has also regularized full surveys of children in welfare blind spots to detect at-risk children early. Last year, in cooperation with the police, a full survey was conducted on 35,470 high-risk children who had been reported two or more times over the past three years since 2019, and preemptive measures such as referrals for investigation, abuse reports, and welfare service linkage were taken for 2,121 cases.

On-site, collaboration among autonomous district dedicated child abuse public officials, police, and Child Protection Agencies has been evaluated positively. Many opinions noted that cooperation among agencies is well established through weekly child abuse case judgment meetings and monthly child abuse information linkage councils.

Going forward, Seoul plans to address limitations revealed in the operation of the response system, such as 24-hour response, by continuously increasing the number of dedicated child abuse public officials and enhancing their expertise, expanding infrastructure to ensure safe protection and case management of children, and strengthening response capabilities throughout the entire process from reporting and investigation to child protection and case management. Efforts will also focus on prevention, including the preemptive identification of at-risk children before abuse occurs and raising social awareness.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Women and Family Policy Office, stated, “Child abuse is an issue that goes beyond family problems and must be solved together by our society. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with related organizations and listen to voices from the response field to build a meticulous safety net covering investigation, protection, and prevention of recurrence. We will expand support to reduce parental caregiving burdens and strive to create a society that respects children, the future leaders, to make Seoul a safe and happy city for all children.”

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