Reports of suspected child abuse exceeded 63,000 in 2025, marking a significant increase. This rise is attributed to heightened awareness in society regarding even minor forms of corporal punishment and neglect, which were previously dismissed as simple discipline.
However, the majority of abusers remain parents, and the number of children who tragically lost their lives due to abuse has increased compared to the previous year. Nearly half of these fatalities involved infants under one year old, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced government measures.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on September 4 that it submitted the "2025 Child Abuse Annual Report," which compiles key statistics related to child abuse incidents that occurred throughout the year, to the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee.
According to the report, a total of 63,166 child abuse reports were received in 2025, a rise of 12,924 cases (25.7%) from 2024, which had 50,242 reports. During the same period, the number of cases ultimately determined to be child abuse was 23,648, a decrease of 3.4% (844 cases) from the previous year. The determination rate for abuse cases was 41.0%, down 11 percentage points from the previous year.
Lower Threshold for Reporting Minor Discipline; Determination Rate Declines
The surpassing of 60,000 child abuse reports last year is a significant increase compared to the 53,932 reports in 2021, which was marked by public outrage over the death of a 16-month-old adopted child. Over the past five years, there has been a clear upward trend following a temporary adjustment in 2022, which saw 46,103 reports.
Notably, despite the substantial increase in reports, the actual rate of cases ultimately classified as child abuse has decreased. The number of confirmed abuse cases last year was 23,648, resulting in a determination rate of 41.0%.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare explained, "Thanks to the government's ongoing prevention campaigns and efforts to improve public awareness, there has been an increase in proactive reporting of situations that were previously overlooked as mere discipline. The rise in cases not classified as final abuse during investigations by dedicated officials and police has naturally led to a stabilization of the determination rate."
In fact, the proportion of reports made by non-mandated reporters, such as general citizens, increased from 55.1% in 2021 to 83.9% in 2025.
85% of Abusers are Parents; Domestic Violence Remains Hidden
While awareness of reporting has matured, the locations where abuse occurs and the connection to abusers remain strong. Among the types of abusers, parents accounted for 20,172 cases, making up 85.3% of the total. This percentage has increased by 1.2 percentage points from 84.1% in 2024. Other abusers included guardians (6.4%), others (4.8%), and relatives (2.4%).
Most abuse cases occurred in the home, with 19,752 incidents (83.5%) taking place in the child's residence, reflecting the secretive nature of abuse in a confined space.
Cases where children were separated from their abusers for protection totaled 2,043, including 1,343 instances of immediate separation (temporary protection).
Additionally, there were 3,584 cases (15.2%) of "recidivism" where abuse occurred again in families that had previously been determined to have committed abuse. The recidivism rate has shown a gradual decline from 16.0% in 2022 to 15.2% in 2025.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare assessed that strengthening case management by child protection agencies and the establishment of home recovery programs, such as "Knock, Knock! Heart Talk!" where professionals visit homes, have positively impacted the reduction of recidivism.
Of 38 Children Who Died, 18 Were Infants Under One Year; Crisis Detection Systems Need Strengthening
A particularly heartbreaking aspect is the increase in children who died from abuse. In 2025, 38 children died due to abuse, an increase of eight from the previous year, which had 30 deaths.
Notably, among the deceased children, 18 were infants under one year old, accounting for 47.4% of all fatalities. Expanding the scope to include children under six years old, the total rises to 21 (55.3%), underscoring the urgent need for early detection systems for at-risk infants.
Kim Hyun-sook, Director of Population and Child Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "With the publication of this annual report, we plan to closely examine the achievements and progress of our child abuse prevention and response policies, identify areas for improvement, and develop necessary measures for ongoing implementation. To detect child abuse early and prevent serious incidents, we will continue to utilize key crisis indicators for monitoring children and conduct home recovery programs. Starting in September, we will establish and operate a special committee for in-depth analysis of suspected child abuse deaths to thoroughly analyze these cases and build a systemic foundation to prevent similar incidents from recurring."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.