The number of reported child sex abuse cases reached more than 4,000 over the past six years, bringing the daily average to more than two, government data showed Monday.

According to the Justice Ministry data submitted to Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the main opposition Democratic United Party, a total of 4,367 sex offenses against minors under the age of 13 were reported between 2007 and June of this year.
That figure is equivalent to a daily average of 2.17 cases.

"Sex crimes against children continue," Seo said. "In order to strengthen supervision of sex offenders, (I) will push for a revision of relevant laws so that the profiles of sex offenders can be easily accessed anywhere."

By year, 702 child sex offenses were reported in 2007, followed by 828 in 2008, 774 in 2009, 881 in 2010, 816 in 2011 and 366 in the first six months of this year, according to the data.

A series of high-profile child sex crimes has shocked the nation in recent years, prompting the government to toughen punishments for sex offenders.

In the latest case, a 10-year-old girl was found dead in the southeastern fishing town of Tongyeong Sunday, about a week after she disappeared on her way to school. Police said they have taken a 44-year-old man into custody, after he confessed to kidnapping and killing the girl when she resisted his attempt to rape her. (Yonhap)