Yeo "Active Review of Birth Notification System and Protected Childbirth System"... Comprehensive Measures for Unregistered Birth Reports Planned

Kim Ki-hyun Urges Comprehensive Survey on Unregistered Infants
Park Dae-chul Proposes Establishment of National Child Protection Facility

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 23rd that in response to the tragedy of unregistered infants, including cases where newborns born in hospitals but not registered were found dead, "We will actively consider measures such as the birth notification system, where medical institutions directly register birth information, and the protected birth system that supports anonymous births to prevent risks when pregnant women give birth outside medical institutions." The People Power Party announced that it will form a task force (TF) within the party to prepare comprehensive countermeasures.

On the same day, Kim said through social media (SNS), "Over the past eight years, there have been 2,236 infants with hospital birth records but no birth registration, and during a sample survey of 1% of them, 23 infants, reports indicated that three infant corpses were found. I was shocked to the point of feeling chills. I feel frustrated by the reality that thousands of children are left unregistered and are at the crossroads of life and death," he expressed.

Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection conducted an investigation on 23 children out of 2,236 who had birth records but no birth registration from 2015 to 2022, considering risk levels, and confirmed that three had already died and one had been abandoned.

Kim said, "This infant murder case revealed by the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare clearly shows how lax the management of unregistered infants is. Even if a child is born in a medical institution, the institution has no obligation to notify the administrative agency of the birth, and the parents must directly register the birth within one month. However, even if they fail to do so, the fine is only 50,000 won," he explained.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition to actively considering the birth notification system and protected birth system, he said, "We will also encourage a full investigation of the 2,200 cases to meticulously ensure that the tragedy of unregistered newborns does not happen again." Kim apologized regarding this incident, saying, "I am deeply sorry to the people."

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, also said at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, regarding children with birth records but no birth registration, "This is a disgrace to the Republic of Korea," and added, "Before blaming anyone, as a responsible political party, we feel ashamed and sorry."

Yoon said, "All human life is dignified in itself and has the right to be protected by the state from the moment of birth. This is the reason for the existence of the state and the spirit of the Constitution." He continued, "The People Power Party will thoroughly investigate the causes of this incident together with the government and prepare fundamental measures to prevent recurrence."

Park Dae-chul, chairman of the People Power Party Policy Committee, said regarding this issue, "It is necessary to establish a national child protection facility to support psychological treatment for abused disabled children, baby boxes, and overseas child protection services," and added, "The party will form a dedicated TF to prepare fundamental comprehensive measures."

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