Expanding Four 'Community-Specialized Counseling Centers' to Support Recovery of Digital Sex Crime Victims

Expansion from 10 Locations This Year to 14 Next Year
Providing In-depth Counseling, Investigation Accompaniment, and Medical Support

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to expand the 'Digital Sex Crime Regional Specialized Counseling Centers' (hereinafter referred to as Specialized Counseling Centers), currently operating in 10 regions, to 14 centers starting next year.

The regions where new Specialized Counseling Centers will be established next year are Sejong, Ulsan, Jeonnam, and Chungnam. Currently, Specialized Counseling Centers operate in Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon, Busan, Incheon, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Chungbuk.

The Specialized Counseling Centers provide comprehensive support throughout the recovery process for victims of digital sex crimes. Two counselors with expertise in digital environments are assigned to each center, offering in-depth counseling, accompaniment to investigative agencies and courts, free legal consultations, and medical expense support tailored to each victim. They also provide trauma recovery programs considering the characteristics of the victims, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) healing programs.

In coordination with the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center, the centers assist with the deletion of illegal recordings upon the victim's request or in urgent cases. A communication system between the Specialized Counseling Centers and the Support Center has been established to facilitate deletion support. For victims experiencing anxiety due to the distribution of illegal recordings and personal information, the centers provide supportive counseling and customized healing recovery programs. Medical services needed by victims are supported through general sexual violence victim medical expenses or by linking them to nearby sexual violence victim counseling centers.

The total number of cases supported through the Specialized Counseling Centers?including counseling, deletion support, linkage, and healing recovery programs?reached 14,331, an 81% increase from 7,927 cases in 2021.

Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated, "We hope that through close support provided by the regional Specialized Counseling Centers, victims of digital sex crimes can safely return to their daily lives." She added, "We plan to strengthen the expertise of Specialized Counseling Center staff through integrated training conducted together with the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center."

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