In this file photo, children play at a city-run kids cafe in Seoul’s Jongro district on May, 26, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The government is reviewing the idea of revising the law to enable criminal punishment against non-custodial parents who intentionally avoid paying child support without a court detention order.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family deliberated and resolved the basic plan established together by related ministries at the society-related ministers’ meeting held on Monday.
When non-custodial parents do not pay child support even when an execution order is made, a court detention order is required to begin the process of criminal punishment against them.
However, it usually takes too long before such an order is made. Accordingly, voices have been growing for the need to simplify the procedure.
For those who default on child support payments, the scope of driver’s license suspension will also be expanded.
The government will add the “approval of the fulfillment plan for the payment of child support” to the condition for the exemption of the suspension that is now exempted in case the individual requires a driver’s license to maintain their livelihood.
In addition, to encourage non-custodial parents to pay child support voluntarily, the government will expand the consulting service outlets for the fulfillment of child support obligations from the existing child support centers to 244 family centers across the country.
The government also plans to revise the Child Support Enforcement Law to enable the verification of income and property without consent of the child support defaulters. At present, the consent rate is low at 4.3 percent.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
