Amid the soaring number of reported cases of child abuse, parents in Seoul will not be allowed to divorce unless they complete a child abuse prevention course.

The Seoul Family Court said Sunday it will start from May a compulsory education course on child abuse prevention for divorcing parents, aiming to protect children from potential abuse in a stepfamily.

The curriculum will warn divorcing couples that any form of abuse, either physical or emotional, may lead to the deprivation of custody or parental rights, or even to criminal punishment.

“Should either parent fail to complete the course, the divorce process will be suspended immediately,” said an official of the court.

“This rule is to be applied to all divorces, whether by (mutual) consent or by trial.”

The given solution came in response to the reality that almost half of the reported child abuses cases took place in stepfamilies. As of the end of 2014, 4 in 10 abused children were living with a divorced parent, either alone or with a remarried spouse.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)