The Ministry Of Health And Welfare Requires New Daycare Centers In South Korea To Have Security Cameras In Order To Monitor Accidents And Child Abuse

South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare has now ordered new daycare centers in the country to have security cameras as cooperation with the government's endeavor to fight child abuse.

According to The Guardian in their article on Friday, the ministry ordered daycares to position the security cameras in areas where kids most often spend their time and to keep the recorded footage for more than two months. The move will reportedly be implemented by Sept. 19 with a 90-day grace period.

"We recognize the need for surveillance cameras at daycare centers," said main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, Rep. Nam In Soon  "We will pass the bill in February to make it mandatory for them to set up surveillance cameras and to kick out child abusers from the facilities for good."

Parents are given the right to view footage once possibility of accidents or child abuse are suspected and daycare centers are obliged to notify parents where and when to provide the footage in a period of 10 days. Once child abuse is evident in the clips, the ministry will shut down the culpable daycare center.

"We cannot prevent child abuse only by monitoring children and punishing child abusers," said Nam. "We have to improve the working conditions for those who take care of children. By law, we will reduce their working hours and improve their salary level."

Korea Times noted on Jan. 22 the Seoul Metropolitan Government will offer 2.4 million won to daycare centers to set up the security cameras, with 2,553 centers out of 6,787 having already positioned their cameras.

Some politicians will be supporting the move. Nam Kyung Pil, Gyeonggi's Governor, said he will be allotting 13.7 million won to help 13,380 facilities in the province set up security cameras.

As of January this year, 9,081 daycare centers out of 43,700 have already set up their security cameras.