KWDI Korean Women’s Development Institute

The study attempted at recognizing the current status of sexual and domestic violence and prostitution suffered by female adolescents and seeking response measures to improve the situation by examining existing youth support systems in local communities that can support them. In this regard, past studies as well as domestic and foreign laws and measures on violence related to female adolescents were reviewed. Also, 4,000 male and female adolescents were surveyed, with in-depth interviews for 11 female adolescents who had been victims of violence. In addition, 14 sessions of focus group interview (FGI) of related parties were held to understand the current status, problems and remedies for youth support systems. The study differs from other studies on adolescents in view of the fact that it attempted to shed more light on the status of repeated violence among the experiences of violence. In conclusion, first, it was proposed that economic support should be strengthened and learning opportunities should steadily increase as a response measure on the personal level for the safety of female adolescents and prevention of violence against them. On the family level, education for parents of the troubled and average teenagers should be provided, along with the introduction of home counseling and mentor programs for parents. On the local community level, stronger ties among youth support organizations in each community, development of systematic and effective education programs to prevent sexual violence, and facilitation of education on the Internet were proposed. Concerning response measures on the level of the society and legal system, a survey on domestic violence based on the gender perspective was suggested as well as improvement of existing laws on education for prevention of violence against women and promotion of integrated education. Second, among response measures for protection and support for the safety of female adolescents, the following proposals were made on the local community level: promotion of responses based on gender perspective by youth support organizations; increase in the number of temporary shelters for teenage runaways; development of gender-specific support programs and training for relevant professionals; teenager-friendly autonomous management of related facilities; and development of various support systems. As response measures on the level of legal system, promotion of the duty to report crimes related to sexual violence and supplementation for termination of parental rights of those who perpetrated sexual violence on their children were suggested.