'Naming and shaming' of child-support defaulters resurfaces in Korea
A digital wall of shame targeting parents who fail to pay child support has resurfaced in Korea, reigniting a national debate over whether public shaming is a legitimate tool of justice or an unlawful invasion of privacy. Despite a recent government crackdown and expanded state enforcement, the return of this practice reflects deep frustration with a legal system that many single parents say still leaves them financially stranded. The new platform, called "People Who Resolve Child Support" in Korean, began publishing photographs and personal details of alleged “deadbeat” parents on Jan. 26, according to officials. The site is widely seen as the successor to Bad Fathers, an influential but embattled predecessor that was shut down after years of criminal prosecutions. Supporters argue that such naming and shaming is the only way to compel payment in a culture where noncompliance is common, while critics and legal scholars warn that these platforms bypass due process, effectively turning the internet into judge, jury and executioner. The website posts names, birth years, places of resi
