Challenges and Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Korea

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has emerged as a pressing social issue in South Korea in recent years. The public demand for stronger policy responses to child sexual abuse crimes has been increasing. In this paper, we try to examine the incidence of and responses to CSA from a prevention perspective and offer policy suggestions. A nationwide survey of children in the fourth to sixth grade was conducted to investigate neighborhood safety, school-commute safety, and the risk and experience of being molested. Additionally, focus group interviews with school teachers and mothers were performed. The majority of the children was aware of child sexual abuse and had undergone CSA prevention education. Boys were more likely to be the object of inappropriate touching and other behaviors by schoolmates. The proportion of sexually abused children is found to be higher in this survey than that of official crime statistics. Policy implications are suggested as follows: First, it is important to provide more effective CSA prevention programs to teachers and parents. Second, prompter responses to CSA are required from principals and teachers when it occurs inside a school or children related to the school are involved. Third, children need to be encouraged to inform their parents and teacher of an experience of CSA. Fourth, children with a higher probability of being exposed to CSA should be identified and cared for properly.