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The number of cases officially deemed as child abuse incidents in Korea grew 21.7 percent in 2021 from a year ago amid an increase in reports to authorities for intervention, a government report showed Wednesday.

According to an annual welfare ministry report submitted to the National Assembly, the number of cases conclusively judged as child abuse incidents by welfare authorities totaled 37,605 in 2021, compared with 30,905 a year earlier.

Of those, 40 children ended up losing their lives. The number of reports filed with authorities over purported child abuse cases also grew 27.6 percent on-year to 53,932.

The ministry cited the public's increased awareness and subsequent reports over child abuse incidents as the key factor in the growth in cases. Officials also believe the reopening of schools following extended virus curbs may have exposed previously unreported incidents.

According to the report, an overwhelming majority, or 83.7 percent, of the perpetrators were found to be parents, followed by proxy guardians, relatives and strangers, at 9.6 percent, 4 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.

Cases involving repeated abuse incidents stood at 14.7 percent, up 2.8 percentage points from a year ago, the ministry said. (Yonhap)