New day care centers are required to set up security cameras, the welfare ministry said Friday, as part of South Korea's efforts to curb child abuse.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said security cameras should be installed in places where babies and kids spend most of their time, and store footage for more than 60 days.
The move is mandatory for new day care centers to win approval from the ministry, and is set to take effect Saturday.
Existing centers were given a three-month grace period to set up security cameras.
Parents can ask centers to disclose footage when child abuse or safety accidents are suspected. Day cares are required to notify where and when to provide the footage within 10 days.
The ministry also said any center would be shut down if serious child abuse occurs.
In January, a 4-year-old girl was assaulted by her day care teacher, causing a national uproar.
Footage from security cameras showed the 33-year-old female teacher punched the child on the side of her head after seeing that she hadn't finished her meal at a day care in Incheon, a port city just west of Seoul.
The girl collapsed to the floor, with her two legs up in the air.
The case prompted the government and the ruling Saenuri Party to unveil a set of measures to toughen punishment for child abuse at day care centers. (Yonhap)
