The government has devised additional measures to respond to child abuse cases with a focus on boosting on-site responses. 

The government convened on Tuesday a meeting of related ministers and came up with measures to address challenges that surfaced in the handling of a case involving the death of a 16-month-old girl, who is suspected to have been abused.  

Under the measures, both the police and a civil employee will be dispatched to the scene and an assessment on whether the case actually constitutes child abuse will be made by local governments, the police and private experts, including doctors and lawyers. 

To enhance implementation of response measures, the scope of an on-site investigation will include the venue needed to protect the victim. Also, the fine slapped on suspects who refuse to cooperate will be raised from five million won to ten million won. 

In a bid to expand personnel on such cases, local governments will swiftly assign 664 civil employees at the nation’s 229 cities, districts and counties. 

The government also plans to implement from March, as planned, a system in which a child will be immediately removed from his or her home if more than two reports of child abuse have been filed in a year.

To expand facilities that protect such children, the government plans to swiftly complete the planned establishment of 15 shelters and add 14 more before year’s end.