보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Yoon Suk Yeol Administration Promises a Robust,
Impactful Child Welfare Policy and Equal Growth Opportunities

Implement systematic expansion of registration to the ‘Child Development Account’ geared to asset-building for children belonging to vulnerable social group

Design a road-map for the transition of the children protection system from facility-based to home-oriented protection system

In-depth survey of post-COVID-19 delayed development in infants and children, and support to mitigate developmental and learning gaps

In-depth survey of children’s mental health, enhancement of children’s mental health service

Targeted survey of children under 2 years old who have not had their mandatory vaccination or who have not visited a medical institution for treatment

<Summary>

The government is systematically expanding the eligibility scope of the “Child Development Account” geared to asset-building for children belonging to vulnerable social group and preparing the “roadmap for transitioning to a homelike care environment for children in need”. In addition, research on delayed development in infants and children and children's mental health will be conducted to institute policies based on scientific evidence. The government will also introduce policies to mitigate the gap in childhood developmental growth aggravated in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Moreover, to preemptively identify and protect the children at risk of abuse, targeted surveys are being conducted for children under 2 years old who have not had their mandatory vaccination or who have not visited a medical institution for treatment.

On the 13th, the government held the 17th Child Policy Coordination Committee presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, at which the “Yoon Suk Yeol Administration's Child Welfare Policy Plan” that reflects state-led philosophies such as ‘granting equal opportunities to future generations’ and ‘bolstering the welfare among vulnerable social group’ were deliberated and confirmed. It also discussed ‘measures to identify children at risk of abuse and bolster their protection’ and ‘measures to improve the guardianship system for children in need of protection.’ The main contents are as follows.

This child welfare policy plan formulated systematic countermeasures against delayed development and learning deficits, gaps in quality of life for children belonging to vulnerable social group, and mental health risks that have been aggravated in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Firstly, investments and services in child welfare and health are significantly expanded to support all children's developmental growth and resolve delayed childhood development and learning gaps, which have widened post-COVID-19. The “Postnatal Care Service for Mothers and Newborns” in which public health center experts visit households with newborn infants and provide education on maternal and child health management and child-rearing methods, will be expanded from the current 56 centers to municipalities nationwide by 2027.

To mitigate the gap in childhood developmental growth that has worsened in the aftermath of COVID-19, surveys are conducted on the developmental delay of infants and young children and on children's mental health, and support measures have been to developed for each sectors. To bridge the childhood learning gap, ‘Do-Dream’ Schools are installed in all elementary, middle, and high schools to provide integrated support for students struggling academically regarding learning guidance and psychological counseling. Hospital schools, juvenile hall schools, and itinerant and remote education will also be actively provided to ensure interrupted education for children who are absent from school for a long time.

Secondly, welfare support for children belonging to vulnerable social group is strengthened, and the Child Development Account* (Didim Seed Account) will gradually expand its eligibility target. Currently, the Child Development Account can be created by a child subject to protection living in child welfare facilities, ranging in all ages, and a child who is above the age of 12 from households that receives basic welfare payments. In the future, the systematic expansion of eligible children in need will be pursued, accounting for the fairness of age standards, for more children belonging to vulnerable social group to benefit from asset-building through the Child Development Account.

* The government deposits twice the amount (up to KRW 100,000 per month) in savings accounts of children belonging to vulnerable social group

To create a child-friendly environment for a growing child subject to protection, child welfare facilities will provide one room per person to improve their environment and expand support to the foster home system guardians by offering parenting coaching programs for them. Meanwhile, it will also establish the road-map for transitioning from a facility-based protection system to a home-oriented protection system. Moreover, the existing adoption agency-centric adoption system will be transitioned into a children-centric adoption system under the oversight of central and local governments, with a basic plan for advancing domestic adoption being established.

In addition, to ensure the right of all children to have their births registered and strengthen public protection, the birth notification system at medical institutions and the foreign children’s birth registration system will be instituted. The protected birth system will be rolled out to allow pregnant women in crisis to give birth anonymously at a medical institution after consultation and their newborn child to be entitled to the protection of municipalities.

Thirdly, to strengthen the basis for instituting child welfare policies, members who represent children's opinions in major government committees are appointed, and opportunities are expanded for children to participate in policies by delivering policy information geared to children's level. In addition, the enactment of the “Basic Act on Children” (tentative name) is pursued to stipulate the fundamental rights of children and the responsibilities of the state and society.

Due to a low rate of detection of abuse and a high rate of mortality, there is a focus on identifying children under 2 years old at risk of abuse. From April 17, a targeted survey will be conducted on children under 2 years old (approximately 11,000 children) who have not had their mandatory vaccinations or who have not visited a hospital for treatment in the past year. Moreover, online education is being conducted to enhance the expertise of the anti-child abuse official in municipalities and counselors of a specialized child protection agency, and protection against child abuse is being reinforced by standardizing case handling procedures through specialized children protection institutions and expansion of regional medical institutions.

Since a child subject to protection is restricted in various areas such as hospital admission and discharge, surgeries, the opening of bank accounts, and mobile phone registration due to the absence of legal guardianship, a plan is implemented to grant legal guardianship to foster parents in essential fields temporarily. The plan also incorporates support for the formation of public guardians.

A government official noted that “Through this 17th committee, a detailed five-year blueprint for child welfare policies incorporating the new administration’s state administration philosophy was prepared,” and explained further, “Through the seamless implementation of the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration’s Child Welfare Policy Plan established at this time, we will provide all children with equal opportunities for growth and development, and strive to provide a robust and impactful child welfare system.”