The National Statistical Office (NSO) released figures on Tuesday showing that 16,894 young people (cheongsonyeon) between the ages of 9 and 20 went missing last year, 26.3 percent more than in 2003. Immediately after the foreign currency crisis, in 2000 and 2001 their numbers did go over 18,000, but since then fewer had gone missing until last year. 57.7 percent of the missing are female.
The NSO provided no analysis as to the reason more are disappearing, but guessing is not difficult. The unemployment resulting from the economic recession hurts first and foremost the household finances of the common people, much of which goes to the cost of raising children and education expenses. Also, the difficulties of making ends meet and the subsequent domestic discord and separation and divorce are other reasons why youth get forced out of their homes. In other words, the recession is causing them to go missing. Just as the period of IMF oversight saw a rise in youth gone missing, last year as well the recession was a warning of the same kind of increase.
Social and economic uncertainties push young people out of their homes, and the problem is more than a little serious because young people become exposed and defenseless to social evils such as crime and violence. It is easy for missing youth, particularly girls, to leave in search of a way to survive and they are frequently confronted by the danger of being enticed by bad adults into the sale of sex. It is no coincidence that when the police did a major crackdown on teen prostitution at the start of this year they found 53 percent more cases than during the same period in 2004. One study found that one out of four youths who leave home have sexually transmitted diseases, showing you how serious the misfortune that awaits them can be.
The fundamental solution will be achieving balanced economic growth and expanding basic social welfare, and in doing so making families stronger. However, there urgently needs to be better protection of young people who have left their homes. There needs to be more self-support centers and other official and substantial assistance.
The Hankyoreh, 4 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
Runaway Youngsters on the Rise |
