President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun have discussed measures to prevent child abuse amid heightened public interest in the issue following the death of a 16-month-old baby girl. 

In the year’s first meeting between the two leaders on Monday, Moon regretted that despite three occasions of reporting, Jeong-in had ultimately succumbed to her months of debilitating abuse due to the absence of strong early police investigations and the failure to separate the victim from her adoptive parents. She died last October.

In response, Chung briefed him on plans to clarify roles and responsibilities assigned to related agencies, such as the welfare ministry, education ministry and National Police Agency. 

The prime minister added a legal framework to secure more active intervention by state authorities and strengthen punishment of perpetrators will be established. 

Jeong-in’s adoptive mother was indicted for fatal child abuse after she died from massive injuries to her internal organs while her adoptive father was indicted for neglect.