We write this petition, moved by a personal incident involving a precious 3-year-old child, Kim Won Woo. He was wrongly and tragically subjected to intentional physical abuse by his teacher. A grim reminder of the child's pain can be seen through the unsettling bruises that covered his arms - the proof exists not just in photos but also in the damning text messages from the remorseful teacher, who tried covering her heinous act and later had the audacity to apologize. Despite all this evidence, the police declared her innocent, citing lack of conclusive evidence as the recorded CCTV footage was inconveniently unavailable.

Sadly, this incident is not isolated but rather, one among the rising cases of child abuse in Korean educational institutions. In a heartbreaking incident earlier this year, a teacher's abuse led to the devastating death of a student. Yet, it appears that the authorities are not demonstrating the urgency required to tackle this grim issue.

Child abuse is abhorrent and causes significant harm both psychologically and physically, sometimes even leading to fatal outcomes. According to a study by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, child abuse cases in Korea increased by 3.2% from the year 2018 to 2019. And yet, it seems not enough headway is being made to staunch this growing issue.

We call for justice for little Kim Won Woo and for all the innocent children who have ever been in his shoes. We implore the Korean legal system to do more, to hold abusive caregivers and educators accountable, and to ensure robust protection laws are in place to safeguard our children's welfare. Remembering Kim, his hardships, and the current state of affairs, we beg you to lend your support and use your voice to sign this petition. We seek justice for Kim, but above all, we seek a safer environment for our children in Korea. Please, sign and share this petition.