[Anchor]

Gaps in the child protection system are being continuously exposed in the case of an 11-year-old child who died at a church in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. Although the deceased child was designated as a victim of abuse twice, meaning both administrative authorities and the police were aware of the child's vulnerable situation, the tragedy ultimately could not be prevented.

Here is a report by Kim Ji-hoon from TJB.

[Reporter]

For 11-year-old child A, the church was virtually like home.

However, this church did not possess the legal qualifications to protect and raise child A.

It was not registered as a child welfare facility, nor was the pastor designated as a foster family entrusted with raising child A.

Having stayed at this church since shortly after birth, child A was in a blind spot that effectively escaped administrative reach because the facility was not registered as a child welfare agency.

Yet, it is not as though administrative authorities were unaware of child A's crisis.

The first report of abuse was filed in 2021, and the second report of abuse was filed in 2024.

Child A was designated as a "victim of child abuse" on two occasions.

When designated as an abused child, victims receive psychological treatment, counseling, and medical support through specialized child protection agencies.

Child A was also registered and managed as an abused child until the fatal incident occurred.

[Pyo Jung-eun / Team Leader, Cheonan City Crisis Children Response Team: We wrap up cases when the family situation has improved to some extent, or when we reach a level where we can discuss closing the case because intervention is no longer necessary.]

The fact that child A was not separated from the maternal grandmother, who had a history of abuse, is also a point that needs to be scrutinized.

The maternal grandmother was punished for abuse charges in 2024, but it was found that she continued to be involved in most decision-making processes regarding child A, such as school life and hospitalizations, even afterward.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held an emergency meeting at the Cheonan City Hall to discuss systemic improvement measures for the overall child abuse protection system.

(Video Journalist: Kim Kyung-han from TJB, CG: Park Bo-young from TJB)

Kim Ji-hoon from TJB