Simple & Easy Law Info

Child Abuse

Does starving and neglecting a child constitute child abuse?

Yes. “Child abuse” is where an adult, including a child’s protector, inflicts physical, mental, or sexual violence on or engages in cruel treatment of a child, or where a child’s protector abandons or neglects the child.

“Physical abuse” refers to all acts by which an adult, including a child's protector, inflicts physical harm or allows the inflicting of physical harm on a child in a situation that is not an unforeseen accident.

“Emotional abuse” refers to any verbal insult, emotional threat, confinement, restraint, or other abusive act inflicted on a child by an adult, including a child's protector.

“Sexual abuse” refers to all sexual acts committed by an adult, including a child's protector, towards a child under 18 years of age for the purpose of his or her own sexual gratification.

“Neglect” is where a child's protector puts a child in a dangerous situation or fails to provide the child with food, clothing, shelter, compulsory education, medical treatment, and other necessities. “Abandonment” is where a child's protector abandons a child and leaves the child without protection.

For detailed legal information, please refer to「Child Abuse」 in easylaw.go.kr