77% of child abuse is committed by parents

The number of cases ruled as child abuse topped 10,000 for the first time last year.

According to the "2014 State of Child Abuse" report released by National Child Protection Agency on Sunday, the number of cases ruled as child abuse rose to 10,027 last year, up 3,231 from 6,796 in 2013. The figure was also up 3,624 from 6,403 in 2012.

The agency said last year`s surge was mainly affected by a rise in ruled cases after the death of a daughter by her stepmother in Chilgok and Ulsan in North Gyeongsang Province last year that had led to escalation of public outrage.

A person working at a childcare sector said, "Interest on child abuse is increasing, while punishment level has strengthened after the special law on punishment of child abuse crimes took effect in September last year," adding "It seems these situations were reflected in the increase in the number of ruled child abuse."

There are five major categories of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and overlap of abuse (overlap between two or more types of abuse)

Overlap of abuse topped the list with 4,814 cases, followed by neglect at 1,870 cases, emotional abuse at 1,582 cases, physical abuse at 1,453 cases and sexual abuse at 308 cases. Among the assailants, biological parents accounted for the lion`s share at 77.2 percent. Home accounted for the biggest 83.8 percent among places where abuse took place.

Child abuse by daycare center teachers took up just 2.9 percent. Early this year, a child abuse at a daycare center at Incheon had aroused public outrage.

Among regions, child abuse took place most in Gyeonggi Province with 2,501 cases, followed by North Jeolla Province at 932, South Gyeongsang at 749, South Jeolla at 641 and North Gyeongsang at 613.