[2023 National Audit] Reported Child Abuse Cases Triple in 5 Years

Most Abusers Are Parents
8,090 Cases of Physical Abuse Detected Last Year
321 Cases of Sexual Abuse as Well

Recently, the number of child abuse cases detected has increased more than threefold compared to five years ago.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Kim Yong-pan, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, the number of child abuse arrests last year was 11,970, about 3.2 times higher than in 2018.

Kim Yong-pan, a member of the People Power Party, is making a personal statement at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

By region, Gyeonggi-do had the highest number of arrests with 3,630 cases, followed by Seoul (2,061 cases), Incheon (869 cases), and Daegu (586 cases).

Looking at the types of child abuse, physical abuse was the most common with 8,090 cases, followed by emotional abuse with 2,046 cases. Neglect (756 cases), overlapping cases (656 cases), and sexual abuse also accounted for 321 cases.

Regarding the types of perpetrators, parents were the most common with 10,630 cases. Others included strangers (690 cases), teachers (645 cases), and childcare workers (550 cases), but their proportions were minimal.

Assemblyman Kim stated, "Abuse by parents is often concealed, so the actual situation is likely more severe," and added, "It is necessary to introduce a systematic abuse prevention system to create a safe society where no children suffer anymore."

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