Reports of suspected child abuse has reached a record high of 30,262 cases to welfare authorities in the first half of 2017, exceeding the 30,000 mark for the first time since comparable data became available in 2011, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
The number of victims below age 18 reported by police to child consultation centers rose 5,751 from a year earlier amid increased public awareness of the issue.
The police offered emergency protection to 1,787 children due to endangerment from January to June, up 236 from a year earlier.