S. Korea to remove right of parents to inflict corporal punishment on children

May 24, 2019, 09:20 am

AsiaToday reporter Kim Si-young

The country’s law will be pushed forward so physical punishment will not be included in disciplinary actions that parents can take against children. A birth notification system will be introduced to ensure that every child is registered and protected by the government as soon as they are born. Child abuse investigations will be conducted directly by cities and districts. An environment where youngsters can play safely will be established. State responsibility will be expanded for improvements in children’s quality of life.

The government announced its “Inclusive Nation’s Child Policy” on Thursday. The new policy places a high value on the children’s right to survival, development, participation, and protection. The government plans to work out the second basic plan for child policy (2020-2024) by the end of the year.

In order to prevent child abuse under the mask of discipline, the government will push to remove the right of parents to administer corporal punishment on their children. Sweden and other 53 countries around the world have already banned corporal punishment on children. The government expects the revision of the law would be a turning point in the public perception of physical punishment of children. A birth notification system will be also introduced to prevent newborn babies from being abandoned and mistreated. To this end, the Family Relationships Registration Act will be amended.

State responsibility will be strengthened to improve children’s quality of life. For instance, if a child needs protection due to abuse, abandonment, or other reasons, local governments will consult directly and investigate home environment. If a child needs to be separated from the original family, the Case Decision Committee under the Child Welfare Deliberation Committee will decide on the most appropriate protection method for the child. The special family foster system will be enforced for children in need of special protection.

South Korea’s adoption system, which is heavily dependent on the private sector, will be also reorganized so that the state and local governments take on more responsibility. Extending the adoption consideration period will be reviewed while economic, psychological and legal support will be given to biological parents who are concerned about adoption. As an effort to revitalize domestic adoptions, pre-foster system of adoptive parents-to-be before adopting will be institutionalized. From this year, an annual survey on children under three years old will be conducted to check their safety and whereabouts.

#corporal punishment #parents #child abuse #child policy #South Korea