District launches child abuse prevention campaign, warning that spousal arguments constitute emotional abuse

Buk-gu in Ulsan distributed cup sleeves bearing the message "Don't fight in front of your children" to local coffee shops as part of a child abuse prevention campaign. [Ulsan Buk-gu Office]
Buk-gu in Ulsan distributed cup sleeves bearing the message "Don't fight in front of your children" to local coffee shops as part of a child abuse prevention campaign. [Ulsan Buk-gu Office]

Buk-gu in Ulsan has produced cup sleeves carrying child abuse prevention messages and distributed them to local coffee shops as part of an effort to stamp out child abuse. The district also plans to hold a child abuse prevention seminar in November and pursue a broader awareness campaign in partnership with the community.

The district focused distribution on coffee shops in areas that had recorded relatively high numbers of child abuse reports, handing out 30,000 cup sleeves so that residents could encounter the prevention message naturally in their daily lives.

The sleeves carry the phrase "Don't fight in front of your children," alerting the public that repeated verbal abuse and heated arguments between spouses can constitute "emotional abuse" toward a child.

Reported cases involving children exposed to spousal conflict have been rising. According to child abuse statistics compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare covering the past five years, the number of child abuse reports climbed from 42,251 in 2020 to 50,242 in 2024.

"We launched this campaign at the local government level to help create an environment where children — our future — can grow up well from within the home," a Buk-gu official said. "Everyday arguments between parents can leave lasting scars on a child, so we hope this serves as an opportunity for people to reflect on their words and actions."


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