Child delegates take policy demands to Korea's National Assembly

The health ministry said Monday that 13 child representatives visited the National Assembly to hand a policy resolution adopted at the 23rd Korea Children's Assembly to the chairs of the legislature's health and welfare and education committees.

The delegates met Education Committee Chair Kim Hee-jung and Health and Welfare Committee Chair Lee Man-hee in turn, explaining the main proposals in the resolution and asking for active attention so that children's voices are reflected in lawmaking and policy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. The resolution, adopted at the assembly held Aug. 4-6, calls for guaranteed field trips and school outings, alongside steps to ease academic pressure and secure children's right to rest.

About 110 child delegates took part in the August assembly, held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and the International Youth Center under the theme "Academic Burden and Children's Rights," with the slogan "Less academic burden, More children's health." Participants discussed difficulties caused by excessive study and adopted the resolution after debating measures including expanded hands-on learning, guaranteed rest and a stronger counseling system to relieve academic stress.

The assembly is held annually to guarantee children's right to participation under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, bringing together delegates aged 10 to 17 from across the country to debate social issues and policies affecting children and propose improvements.

The ministry plans to report the resolution to the Children's Policy Coordination Committee in the fourth quarter, a body chaired by the prime minister and composed of government ministers, to seek cross-government cooperation and policy reflection.

"The policy resolution our children agonized over and proposed themselves is an answer to what adults must do to bring real change to children's lives," Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said. "So that children's vivid voices do not end as a mere proposal, I will support them in leading to legislative activity in the National Assembly and reflection in government policy so that children can grow up healthy."

The Korea Children's Council, which has run the assembly since 2004, is forming a monitoring group of about 40 children to check implementation of the resolution from October through June of next year. The group plans to present its findings at the opening ceremony of next year's assembly.

"I hope the child delegates' proposals to reduce academic burden and protect children's health lead to discussions in the National Assembly and the government," said Kim Yu-im, president of the National Center for the Rights of the Child. "The center will check the implementation process and support the delegates' activities so that the resolution leads to real change."

Oh Joon, chairman of the Korea Children's Council, said the resolution shows what must change in children's lives, and expressed hope that the delivery serves as a chance to reflect children's views in legislation and policy rather than merely listening to them.