Mission life: THE KUKMIN DAILY

KWCTU Recommends Temperance: “Alcohol consumption destroys families”

2016-04-29 11:30

On April 26, the Korea Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (KWCTU) announced a “Policy Recommendation to the Government for Smoking and Drinking Abstinence” at the Temperance Union building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul (photo). Their recommendations include: a ban on the broadcasting of drinking scenes and the advertising of alcoholic beverages, the opening of a Fatal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) prevention center, adoption of an abstinence policy, alcohol and tobacco detox education, alcohol and smoking free zones in military bases, and legislation of an Abstinence Sunday. Since its foundation in 1923, the Temperance Union has been campaigning for abstinence from alcohol and tobacco.

KWCTU president Kim Yung-joo explained, “The reason why the child victims in recent domestic violence cases were unable to respond to toilet training was that their mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy, which damaged the babies’ brains and central nervous systems. If our country’s drinking culture continues in this way, such horrible tragedies also will continue.”

The study “Child Abuse Facts and Legal Protection of Victimized Children,” published last year by the Korean Institute of Criminology, revealed that parents’ drinking is a major cause of child abuse. Among the cases reported during the past 10 years, most (83%) of the perpetrators were parents, among whom 82.7% were alcoholics.

Research Prof. Park Gyeong-il of Ewha Womans University (College of Nursing), who is a board member of KWCTU’s education department, warned, “There is a high risk of birth deformities if the mother drinks. Alcohol harms the brain of the fetus.” Children with FAS have difficulty controlling themselves, show lower levels of intelligence, and lack the capacity to make judgments. Therefore it is difficult for them to build normal relationships with other people. Their limited capability to learn professional skills often prevents them from having an occupation.

Reporter A-young Kim (cello08@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok


Click here for the original article in Korean

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