Physical abuse surged by 93 percent to 1,453 cases, showing the highest increase rate. Mental abuse also hiked by 43.7 percent and sexual abuse by 27.3 percent, the report said. The overlapped abuse cases also rose by 64.8 percent, it added.
The improved public awareness over child abuse and strengthen punishment contributed to the rise of the confirmed cases, officials said. Since September last year, the government has fortified the obligation to report child abuse by child care teachers, doctors and others, and tightened punishment against the assailants.
The majority of the abuse assailants were found to be biological parents with 77.2 percent, followed by stepparents and adoptive parents, with 4.3 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.
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Articles by Korea Herald