Korea to strengthen legal system to cope with child abuse cases

By Jung Min-ho

Korea will strengthen its law enforcement system to better cope with child abuse cases, following a string of high-profile cases underlying serious social problems.

The Seoul Central District Court said Sunday that three of its criminal investigation departments will be dedicated only to child abuse cases starting Monday.

“The restructuring plan reflected increasing social concerns about the crime,” a court official said.

Other than family courts, this is the first time for any court in Korea to set up departments dedicated to child abuse crimes. This groundbreaking change by the nation’s largest court may encourage others to follow suit.

The National Police Agency will also create a department to throw more weight into domestic abuse investigations. The agency said about 350 officers will be assigned to the department by the end of this year and the number will increase to about 1,000 by the end of next year.

The changes came after President Park Geun-hye’s call for stronger measures against domestic violence during a cabinet meeting on Jan. 19.

Last month, the remains of a seven-year-old boy were found more than three years after he was presumed killed in 2012 by his father in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The incident sparked criticism of the nation’s lax system for child protection.

As part of the government effort, the ministries of education and welfare said they will strengthen their system for checking up on students missing from school.