95 sex-offenders found working at youth-related facilities last year: ministry
Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 18:37
Updated: 12 Mar. 2026, 19:36
![A pedestrian passes a street lined with after-school academies in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Dec. 21, 2025. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/12/646014c3-b5b6-4cbb-802c-2618bcd325d3.jpg)
A pedestrian passes a street lined with after-school academies in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Dec. 21, 2025. [YONHAP]
The government found 95 sex-offenders who were working at children or youth-related facilities against regulations last year.
The employment restriction system bars individuals with sex crime convictions from working at institutions related to children and adolescents for a certain period to protect minors from potential sexual crimes.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released the findings in its 2025 Inspection Results on Employment Restrictions for Sex Offenders on Thursday. The government has conducted regular inspections at least once a year since 2016 to identify violations.
A government investigation conducted from April to December last year examined 4,126,906 workers across 638,852 children and youth-related institutions, including private academies and sports facilities.
The number of violators had risen in recent years before declining last year. There were 67 violators in 2021, 81 in 2022, 120 in 2023 and 127 in 2024.
By institution type, sports facilities accounted for the largest share with 24 cases, accounting for 25.3 percent of the total. They were followed by hagwon (after-school academies) and other private education facilities with 21 cases, accounting for 22.1 percent, medical institutions with 13 cases, accounting for 13.7 percent and youth activity facilities such as lifelong education centers and performance venues with 11 cases, accounting for 11.6 percent.
![Won Min-kyong, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, answers questions from lawmakers during a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Nov. 4, 2025. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/12/f86c6cc1-849a-4c1c-84b1-e95a10372f04.jpg)
Won Min-kyong, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, answers questions from lawmakers during a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Nov. 4, 2025. [NEWS1]
Of the 95 individuals caught violating the rules, 65 employees have been fired. For 30 operators who directly ran institutions, measures such as facility closures or changes in management were imposed.
The institutions involved and the measures taken will be posted on the publicly accessible sex offender notification website for 10 months starting Thursday.
“Sex crimes leave severe physical and psychological harm that children and adolescents struggle to recover from,” said Won Min-kyong, Minister of Gender Equality and Family. “We will strengthen management systems in cooperation with relevant ministries, local governments and education offices and improve the system so children and adolescents can grow up in a safe environment."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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