South Korea to separate children immediately after two or more abuse reports in a year

South Korea plans to remove children from their guardians immediately when authorities receive at least two abuse reports within a year, part of a strengthened response to suspected repeated abuse.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the measures on Dec. 2 with the education and justice ministries. The package follows the suspected abuse-related death of an 11-year-old child in Cheonan in August and aims to address gaps in the existing separation system.

Under revised guidelines, officials will use temporary or emergency protection when repeated abuse appears likely. The government said children have sometimes remained exposed to danger because separation measures were not properly implemented. Police will also share detailed reports with local governments and respond jointly at the scene.

Local governments will hire 113 additional dedicated child-abuse officials. Their monthly activity allowance will rise from 50,000 won to 100,000 won next year. Specialized shelters for abused infants, young children and children with disabilities will expand to 18 nationwide by next year. Twelve shelters currently serve abused children with disabilities.

Local governments, the Education Ministry and education offices will broaden information sharing on abuse histories involving children exempted from or postponing compulsory school attendance. Authorities will include high-risk children in joint inspections conducted twice a year by police, local governments and child-protection agencies. The ministry also said it would improve social-security and education information systems so agencies can share abuse and school-attendance information more quickly.

The ministry is separately conducting a second review of about 30,000 children aged six or younger who had not received essential vaccinations or other required services. Of 30,855 children covered in the first review, 8,807 were connected with welfare services, four cases were reported as suspected abuse and 199 were referred to police for investigation.

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We will continue strengthening cooperation by improving the social security information system and education information system so agencies can quickly share child abuse histories and information on exemptions from or delays to compulsory school attendance.