‘친권자 징계권’관련 뉴스 기사의 이슈 분석

Objectives: This study aims to understand the trend in public opinion about corporal punishment by looking at issues related the “parental right to take disciplinary action” using news articles reported in the media. Methods: News articles published by media outlets in Korea were analyzed from May 23, 2019, to May 22, 2022, on the topic of the Korean government’s initiative to revise the provisions of the “parental right to take disciplinary action.” Results: The results of this study suggest, first, that keywords such as “corporal punishment,” “parents,” “child abuse,” “child,” “civil act,” “disciplinary action,” “abuse,” “discipline,” “abolition of the right to take disciplinary action,” and “person of parental authority” were most frequently mentioned in the news articles about the “parental right to take disciplinary action” Next, main topics of those news articles on the “parental right to take disciplinary action” included “child abuse cases,” “a revision bill of the civil act,” “prevention of child abuse,” “strengthening punishment against child abuse,” “means of discipline,” “social activities,” “repeal of the provision on the right to take disciplinary action,” “children’s rights,” “government policy,” and “perceptions of corporal punishment.” Conclusions: The issue related to the “parental right to take disciplinary action” can be said to be a public debate on corporal punishment in the family, which has traditionally been tolerated. The reason why corporal punishment cannot be justified was discussed in terms of children's rights. Moreover, in that the “parental right to take disciplinary action” clause was deleted, the formation of a social consensus over ways to replace unresolved corporal punishment is occurring.