Child-Abuse Case Rekindles Debate Over Mandating CCTV in Kindergarten Classrooms (Yonhap)
CHUNCHEON, Nov. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Public pressure for mandatory closed-circuit cameras in kindergarten classrooms is mounting in South Korea following a suspected child-abuse case in Chuncheon, but education authorities signaled caution on imposing sweeping surveillance requirements.
Shin Gyeong-ho, superintendent of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education, said Wednesday that the installation of CCTV inside kindergarten classrooms “is currently not permitted,” adding that the issue “needs to be watched carefully” rather than rushed. When asked about the need for new legislation, he declined to offer a personal view.
An education office official noted that, under current law, authorities have no grounds to require CCTV in classrooms. “If broader consensus emerges on the need for cameras, individual kindergartens could be guided to make their own decisions,” the official said.
Is CCTV the real-life version of “Big Brother,” or a watchdog that exposes hidden wrongdoing? (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The official added that, in light of the ongoing investigation, the office plans to emphasize the effective use of already-installed cameras to prevent abuse and safety incidents, providing guidance and training where necessary. “Mandatory installation requires social consensus,” the official said. “It is difficult for the education office to take a definitive stance.”
The controversy stems from allegations that a homeroom teacher at a Chuncheon kindergarten kicked two children in the abdomen on Nov. 13 because they were not concentrating during practice for a school performance. Police are investigating the case.
Parents who reported the incident discovered that CCTV cameras installed in the classroom and teachers’ office were not connected to any recording system, leaving them unable to view footage. They have strongly criticized the “useless” setup and are demanding mandatory, functional CCTV as a safeguard.
While child-care centers have been required to install CCTV since a high-profile abuse case in Incheon’s Songdo district in 2015, kindergartens governed by the Early Childhood Education Act are only subject to nonbinding recommendations.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
