SEOUL -- Using big data, South Korean health officials will seek out children in crisis to provide help.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday it has launched a new system to analyze data such as children's uninformed long absence from school and logs on compulsory health examination and vaccination.
A child has a high risk of being abused by parents or guardians if the kid does not get regular medical services or stay away from school for a long time. If a certain level of risk factors is found, the system will automatically alert public officials. If a child is suspected of being abused, police and other related officials will be asked to intervene.
The health ministry has conducted a six-month test of its service in 66 districts from September last year. The system found there were about 13,000 children in need of help.