South Korea logged 6,608 reports related to abuse of people with disabilities in 2025, 9.6% more than in 2024, while the Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed 1,505 cases.
The ministry’s report separates incoming reports from abuse classifications. It placed 3,375 reports in the suspected-abuse category and recorded 1,505 confirmed cases, about 4% more than in 2024. The 6,608 total counts reports received, not confirmed cases.
Victims filed 806 reports themselves, a 31.7% increase from the previous year. People without a duty to report abuse accounted for 73.5% of suspected-abuse reports. Suspected-abuse reports from people with reporting obligations rose 12.3% year over year. The ministry called for continued public education and easier ways to report abuse.
Cases involving victims whose primary disability was intellectual disability or autism totaled 1,147, or 76.2% of confirmed cases. The count comprised 1,055 cases involving intellectual disability and 92 involving autism. Including cases in which either disability was secondary brings the total to 1,171, according to the report.
The location data placed 47.6% of recorded incidents in victims’ residences and 12.8% in disability welfare facilities. Physical abuse was the largest listed category, with 668 instances (34.4%); the report recorded 521 instances of emotional abuse (26.8%) and 394 of financial exploitation (20.3%).
Repeat-abuse cases increased from 49 in 2020 to 238 in 2025. The ministry has compiled the figures annually since 2018 and said it plans to strengthen its response as reports and victim-support needs rise.
An amended law is set to raise the maximum fine for mandatory reporters who fail to report abuse from 3 million won to 10 million won. The change is scheduled to take effect Feb. 12, 2027.
