Protective Custody Facilities, Children's Cries: 'I Want to Be Loved! I Want to Be Loved!'

The stories emerging from South Korea's juvenile protection system are deeply troubling, painting a picture of vulnerable children who, instead of finding refuge and rehabilitation, often experience repeated abandonment and instability. Hankyoreh's investigation delves into the systemic failures that leave minors in a precarious state, stripped of their sense of belonging and facing a future fraught with uncertainty. The core issue lies in the fragmented nature of the system, where the courts, childcare facilities, and local governments operate in silos, creating dangerous gaps.

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I want to be loved! I want to be loved!

Take the case of Jin-hyung, a minor who, after being placed in a facility called 'Dream Village,' was denied re-entry following a court-ordered disposition. The facility, citing Jin-hyung as a 'troublesome child,' refused his return, leaving the court powerless to compel them. This resulted in Jin-hyung, then 15, losing his 'home' – the place he considered family. This situation is not unique. The article highlights how the 'notification system,' intended to streamline juvenile cases, is sometimes exploited to remove 'difficult' children from facilities, effectively pushing them out of the system rather than addressing their needs. The feeling of being 'abandoned twice' – first by parents and then by the system – is a recurring trauma for these young individuals.

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It's my home.

Furthermore, the article exposes the harsh reality faced by minors who 'age out' of these facilities. Many are released without adequate preparation or support, often before reaching the legal age of majority for protection termination. They are left to navigate the world alone, struggling with basic needs like food and shelter, sometimes resorting to temporary stays in motels or shelters. The lack of a stable 'home' during their formative years leaves deep scars, impacting their ability to form healthy relationships and integrate into society. The system, which should be a safety net, tragically becomes a source of further hardship and marginalization.

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The 'forced transfer of children who do not wish to return' was also pointed out in a Seoul City audit.

Son-young's story further illustrates this systemic neglect. After repeated instances of running away from a facility due to alleged abuse, he was moved between several institutions, each time being treated more like a 'item' being transferred than a child needing care. His experience of isolation within facilities and subsequent release without a proper support system led him down a path of delinquency, driven by hunger and a desperate need for stability. Hankyoreh urges a fundamental re-evaluation of this system. These children are not disposable 'items' but individuals crying out for love and belonging. Their pleas, 'I want to be loved! I want to be loved!', should serve as a wake-up call to reform a system that is failing its most vulnerable charges.

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I felt like I was abandoned twice.