Parents' Anxiety Grows as Daycare Teachers in Gangwon Booked for Child Abuse

Anxiety is mounting among parents whose children attended a daycare center in Gangwon Province, where three teachers have been arrested on child abuse charges and four others, including the director, have been referred to prosecutors. Being referred to prosecutors means being formally brought to trial based on the results of the investigation.

Since the incident, parents have unanimously reported that their children are showing unusual behaviors not seen before. reportedly, several of the child victims were commonly observed hitting their own faces or pulling their hair.

Gong Hye-jeong, head of the Korea Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse, said the trauma from child abuse can last for a considerable period or even a lifetime, stressing the importance of early treatment. She added that receiving treatment quickly increases resilience.

The local government with jurisdiction over the case said it will support specialized health examinations for the child victims and provide referrals for psychological counseling for both children and parents.