Gyeonggi-do Strengthens Child Abuse Prevention Projects... Expands Intensive Family Case Management

Gyeonggi Province is increasing the number of Child Protection Agencies conducting the ‘Visit Knock Knock! Heart Talk!’ project from 8 to 20 out of the 25 agencies in the province, and expanding the service target from 120 families to 600 families.

This project involves Child Protection Agencies selecting families in which intensive case management is needed among child abuse cases, and professional counselors directly visiting and managing those families.

The difference from the existing visit management project is that case management is conducted not only focusing on the abused child but on the entire family members. Accordingly, professional counselors identify the needs of each family member and discuss the family’s shared goals while focusing on restoring the family’s functions.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of child abuse cases in South Korea has been increasing every year: 7,669 cases in 2020, 10,207 cases in 2021, and 7,845 cases in 2022.

In particular, the number of re-abuse cases has also increased, with 975 cases in 2020, 1,508 cases in 2021, and 1,334 cases in 2022.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

The problem is that although the number of re-abuse cases is increasing, the rate of protecting abused children in their original families remains high at 84.9% (6,514 cases) in 2020, 84.9% (8,662 cases) in 2021, and 90.7% (7,119 cases) in 2022.

To respond to such child abuse, Gyeonggi Province has continuously expanded Child Protection Agencies to improve accessibility and effective management of child abuse case management, including adding 5 new agencies to the 19 existing ones conducting in-depth case management for abused children’s families since 2022.

On April 1st, a Child Protection Agency was also established in Hanam, bringing the total number to 25 currently in operation. In the second half of the year, the 26th Child Protection Agency will be established in Anseong.

Yoo So-jeong, Director of the Child Care Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Practicing family-centered child abuse case management to prevent re-abuse and restoring and stabilizing the family functions, which are the main living spaces for children, is of utmost importance." She added, "We will continue to focus on ensuring the safety of abused children and preventing re-abuse, and strive to strengthen restorative justice for abuse victims."

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