Green Umbrella: 68.6% of child victims of sexual violence by relatives admitted to facilities have disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning

[Financial News] Seven in 10 children admitted to special-support residential facilities after experiencing sexual violence by relatives were found to have intellectual or mental disabilities, or borderline intellectual functioning. It has been pointed out that while they need ongoing support after leaving the facilities, the absence of follow-up care regulations means support depends on individual responses from frontline workers.
According to Green Umbrella on the 28th, an analysis of data submitted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to the office of Lee Su-jin, a member of the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee, found that as of August this year, 24 of the 35 children admitted to special-support residential facilities nationwide (68.6%) had intellectual or mental disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning. Fifteen children had intellectual or mental disabilities, and nine had borderline intellectual functioning.
Special-support residential facilities protect children and adolescents under 19 who have experienced sexual violence by relatives. Under the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims, etc. (the Sexual Violence Prevention Act), they are protected until they turn 19. If they wish to extend their stay, they may remain until they turn 25 in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Current law also provides a basis for paying self-reliance grants and allowances when a child leaves a facility. However, follow-up care to continuously monitor their safety and daily lives after discharge remains a separate challenge.
Green Umbrella explained that, in the absence of regulations and a budget for follow-up care for those leaving special-support residential facilities, the system relies on the dedication of facility staff. Children who need attentive support may be left in a gap in institutional support after leaving the facilities.
Green Umbrella called for a legal basis for follow-up care to be established under the Sexual Violence Prevention Act, as the Child Welfare Act provides for five years of follow-up care after protection ends. It also said dedicated staff and a budget to carry out this work should be secured.
In its 2024 report, “Hidden Victims: The State of Support Services at Special-Support Residential Facilities for Minor Victims of Intrafamilial Sexual Violence and Areas for Improvement,” the National Assembly Research Service also warned that children with borderline intellectual functioning risk being exposed to exploitation after leaving the facilities. It proposed establishing a follow-up care system and including those who leave special-support residential facilities among the people eligible for support from independent living support agencies.
A Green Umbrella official said, “We need to address the reality that children who have received protection at the national level are left in a gap in follow-up support depending on which law applies, and close the gaps in the system.”

[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter