Some 24-thousand cases of child abuse were confirmed in South Korea last year, resulting in the deaths of 30 children, according to the health ministry’s annual report to the National Assembly released Friday.

The ministry said there were 50-thousand-242 reports of suspected child abuse in 2024, up three-point-five percent from the previous year, reflecting heightened public awareness and improved reporting. Of those, 24-thousand-492 cases were verified as abuse, down four-point-8 percent from 2023.

Eighty-four-point-one percent of the offenders were parents, followed by substitute caretakers at seven percent, with most of the incidents taking place at home.

Children in nine-point-four percent of the cases were separated from their homes for protection, while three-thousand-896, or 15-point-nine percent of total cases were a recurrence within five years.

The number of children who died from abuse fell from 44 in 2023 to 30 in 2024.