Latest news with #ChildWelfareAct
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
Temporary child protection facilities in major cities hit capacity as staff shortages deepen
Temporary shelters for children removed from abusive or otherwise unsafe environments are operating beyond capacity in major urban areas across Japan. These facilities, overseen by local child welfare centers known as jido sodanjo, are facing mounting pressure due to severe staff shortages and extended stays by children who have nowhere else to go. In Japan, children are taken into custody under the Child Welfare Act when deemed necessary by the head of a child welfare center or a prefectural governor, such as in cases in which abuse is suspected. The temporary shelters are either attached to or located near child welfare centers. Children are typically placed under protection for a period of up to two months, during which they receive health care, educational support and other services as part of a broader assessment to determine their future care arrangements. According to the Children and Families Agency, average occupancy rates at temporary protection facilities in Tokyo as well as Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures exceeded 100% in fiscal 2023. Children are also staying longer in these shelters: while the average stay at facilities across the country in fiscal 2021 was 32.7 days, the average stay in Chiba was 75.5 days, and over 40 days in both Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture. As reports of child abuse continue to rise nationwide, so too does the number of children taken into temporary protective custody — a trend that has persisted for years. In fiscal 2023, 270 child welfare officers left their posts at child welfare centers nationwide. More than 80% cited mental or physical health issues or dissatisfaction with their work environment as reasons for resigning, the agency said. Some cases have resulted in legal action. In Chiba, a former employee filed a lawsuit against the local government, claiming they had been forced to work long hours at a facility housing twice the number of children allowed under its official capacity. In March, a district court ruled that the prefecture had violated its duty of care and ordered it to pay roughly ¥500,000 ($3,367) in damages to the former employee. Takayuki Suzuki, a professor in the Department of Child Studies at Toyo University and a former child welfare officer, said that many workers in these facilities are nonregular staff with unstable wages and, as such, are reluctant to take on night shifts, leading to chronic understaffing. 'There are constant unreasonable demands and complaints from parents, and staff can't take time off when they need to,' Suzuki said. 'Public interest in the issue is low, so people quit before they ever feel any sense of purpose.' He added that alongside improving working conditions, it's crucial to maintain and build staff motivation — and that doing so will require a broader societal understanding of what child protection workers are up against. Japan is moving to mandate the presence of specialized staff at temporary child protection shelters. However, concerns are mounting over whether the new standards are sufficient to meet the complex needs of children in these facilities — many of whom require medical care or have experienced trauma. The central government has made it compulsory since fiscal 2024 for shelters run by child welfare centers to employ at least one specialized nurse per facility, with a five-year transition period in place to allow for implementation. But some nurses with experience in the system are calling for a reassessment of the policy. Yuka Miura, a 53-year-old nurse, worked for about a year at a temporary protection facility in the Tokyo metropolitan area. She was the sole nurse on staff, caring for more than 30 children — many of whom had suffered abuse. She estimates around 80% of those in care need some form of medical attention. According to Miura, the duties of nurses in such settings include monitoring children's health, managing medications, and accompanying them to hospital visits — tasks that go far beyond basic first aid. When she surveyed other nurses working in similar facilities across the country, she found that most said the workload was too great for a single person and that staff turnover was high as a result. 'To provide appropriate care, the standard shouldn't just be 'at least one nurse,'' Miura said. 'It needs to be based on the size of the facility and the number of children in care.' In April, she submitted an online petition with 1,490 signatures to the Children and Families Agency, urging the government to revise the shelters' staffing requirements. Translated by The Japan Times
News18
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Kim Soo Hyun Files Complaint Against Kim Sae Ron's Family: 'Spreading False Information'
Last Updated: Kim Soo Hyun has been accused of dating the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was just a minor. South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has filed a complaint against the late actress Kim Sae Ron's family and social media personality Kim Se Ui. In this new lawsuit, the actor has accused Ron's family of spreading false information using an AI-generated audio. 'Kim Se Ui and the late Kim Sae Ron's family went beyond merely spreading false information based on a forged audio file. They even filed a criminal complaint against actor Kim Soo Hyun, accusing him of false charges and violations of the Child Welfare Act. This is a clear and serious case of false accusation," a statement from Kim Soo Hyun's legal team read, as quoted by Koreaboo. This comes two months after Kim Se Ui held a press conference and played an audio recording which allegedly featured the voices of Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron. In the audio, the Queen of Tears actor was seen confirming that he dated Sae Ron while she was in middle school. 'The first time [we had sex] was around the winter break of my second year in middle school," the alleged voice of Kim Soo Hyun said in the audio. What Is Kim Soo Hyun And Kim Sae Ron Dating Scandal? Kim Soo Hyun has been accused of dating the late actress Kim Sae Ron when she was just a minor. So far, the latter's family has made several allegations against Soo Hyun. However, Kim Soo Hyun previously held a press conference and addressed allegations. He said, 'I'll address the biggest concern—I did not date the deceased when she was a minor. We dated five years ago for about a year, long before Queen of Tears aired." The actor also explained why he denied dating Sae Ron earlier, saying, 'As the lead actor of Queen of Tears, I couldn't confirm the relationship publicly because of its potential impact on the cast and crew." Kim also denied accusations that his agency pressured Sae Ron over her debts, saying, 'Aside from the fact that we were both actors, we were simply an ordinary couple who broke up over time." Amid the ongoing controversy, Kim Soo Hyun's career has gone for a toss. His projects have been halted and brand deals have also been cancelled. First Published: July 16, 2025, 17:20 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kim Soo Hyun escalates legal battle against late Kim Sae Ron's family: 'This is a clear and serious case of false accusation'
The well-known South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun has filed a second lawsuit and criminal complaint against the family of late actress Kim Sae Ron and the popular social media personality Kim Se Ui, citing fabricated claims, falsified evidence, and AI-generated audio manipulation. The legal action follows a press conference held on May 7, where Kim Se Ui played a voice recording allegedly featuring Kim Sae Ron claiming she dated Soo Hyun while still in middle school. AI deepfake audio and alleged bribery claims Kim's legal team at LKB & Partners responded forcefully: 'Kim Se Ui and the late Kim Sae Ron's family went beyond merely spreading false information based on a forged audio file. They even filed a criminal complaint against actor Kim Soo Hyun, accusing him of false charges and violations of the Child Welfare Act. This is a clear and serious case of false accusation.' via Koreaboo The audio clip, which Kim's team asserts was created using AI deep voice technology, included lines such as: 'The first time [we had sex] was around the winter break of my second year in middle school.' Alleged voice of Kim Sae Ron, played by Kim Se Ui Kim Se Ui further alleged that Soo Hyun offered 4 billion KRW which is 2.91 million dollars USD to suppress the file and later assaulted the whistleblower when the offer was refused. Kim's lawyers have denied all claims, calling them 'absurd and baseless lies' and emphasizing the criminal severity of submitting forged digital evidence. Timeline of the controversy It started in February 2025, Kim Sae Ron dies by suicide, triggering public scrutiny of her past relationship with Kim Soo Hyun. Then in March 2025, the photos leaked and KakaoTalk messages surfaced, allegedly showing a relationship when Sae Ron was underage. Then in April–May 2025, Kim's agency confirms a brief relationship but insists it began after Sae Ron turned 18. On May 7, 2025: Kim Se Ui's press conference introduces AI-generated audio and assault allegations and on June 23, 2025, Kim Soo Hyun files new lawsuits for defamation, coercion, and violation of sexual crimes law. Career fallout and asset seizures The scandal has severely impacted Kim Soo Hyun's career with multiple brand endorsements cancelled, projects shelved or postponed and one luxury apartment provisionally seized due to advertiser lawsuits totaling 3.3 billion KRW Despite selling one of his Galleria Foret apartments for ₩8 billion KRW, Kim's team insists the sale was pre-planned and not financially motivated by the lawsuits. Whistleblower's credibility in question The whistleblower, known as Mr. A, later admitted to fabricating the audio using AI and sourcing injury photos from the internet. He claimed his wife caused 'misunderstandings' and that he sent the fake file to avoid being seen as a 'spy.' Forensic experts confirmed the audio was artificially generated.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kim Soo Hyun's accuser Kim Se Ui slapped with ₩10 million fine in YouTuber Tzuyang case
In one of the most high-profile YouTube scandals rocking South Korea, controversial Garo Sero host Kim Se Ui has officially been hit where it hurts, his wallet. The Seoul High Court ruled that if he continues uploading defamatory videos about mukbang star Tzuyang (Park Jeong Won), he must pay a ₩10 million fine per clip. Malicious commentators & liars such as Kim Se Ui of GaroSero Research Institute and Kwon Young Chan should be severely punished. Kim Se Ui faces brutal court blow in Tzuyang case This comes after months of legal battles in which Tzuyang accused Kim Se Ui of blackmail, coercion, and privacy violations. It all began with a shady audio clip aired by Garo Sero, featuring two YouTubers allegedly discussing how to exploit her using personal details. Even after Tzuyang emotionally opened up about abuse from a former partner, the channel did not stop. Court issues serious warning after continued harassment While an earlier ruling acknowledged the damage caused, it did not result in any financial penalties, and that leniency clearly backfired. The new court decision stated that Kim Se Ui and Garo Sero continued to amplify harmful rumours, showing blatant disregard for the first ruling. The court said harsher measures were necessary to prevent repeated violations. Kim Se UI's new venture. 😂 Tzuyang's legal reappeal succeeded, and now Kim Se Ui must either back off or cough up serious cash. Kim Soo Hyun hits back with fresh lawsuit Meanwhile, actor Kim Soo Hyun is not sitting quietly either. He had already obtained a court order to seize two of Kim Se Ui's high-end properties, and on June 24, he filed an additional lawsuit against him. The charges? False accusations, fabricated audio evidence, and defamation involving actress Kim Sae Ron. His legal team claimed that Kim Se Ui, along with the late Kim Sae Ron's family, crossed the line by submitting forged recordings and filing baseless complaints under the Child Welfare Act. They called it a 'clear and serious case of false accusation' and confirmed that further legal proceedings are underway. Could jail time be next for Kim Se Ui? Kim Se Ui has already dodged two police summons, blaming his busy schedule during South Korea's presidential elections. But now that the political dust has settled, authorities are running out of patience. If he continues to ignore investigations, he could be looking at jail time. With both Tzuyang and Kim Soo Hyun going full throttle legally, the pressure is mounting fast, and the controversial YouTuber may finally be out of defences.
Korea Herald
26-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Man posts murder threat of children, women
Suspect of online murder threat against 5 girls believed to have posted number of other threats, and allegedly possessed child pornography Seoul police recently handed over to prosecutors the criminal case of a 28-year man, who is accused of posting multiple threats of attacks against elementary school students and women in a number of locations across the country. The suspect in December claimed on an online community that he will go to a Seoul-based elementary school and "murder them all," posting names of the five female students there and a picture of a weapon. They were found to be a girl who the suspect made an unwanted advance to via social media, and her friends. It was reported that the suspect made a demand for videos and photos of the girl to her and her friends, which they declined and told her to stay away. A police investigation revealed other murder and terrorism threats posted by the man, which included those targetting women at locations in Seoul, Busan, and Bucheon of Gyeonggi Province. He also claimed to have planted a bomb at the Kintex convention center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and vowed to set the Constitutional Court on fire. It is also believed that he had owned and distributed child pornography. Officials caught the suspect in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province on June 16, and placed him under detention two days later. No evidence has been found as of yet indicating that he took any steps to carry out the attacks. When approached by reporters outside of the Seoul Jungnang Police Station on Monday and asked if he had actually planned to plant the bomb or murder people, he answered "No," and said he was "sorry" for posting the threatening posts. The suspect is currently facing criminal charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act, Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse. He is also being charged with obstructing performance of of official duties by fraudulent means, as his online threats hindered the duties of police officials. Police said that it will continue investigating some of the charges, particularly one related to his alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.
