Child welfare organization Green Umbrella issued a statement on May 4, ahead of the 104th observance of Children’s Day, calling for policy reforms and a broader culture of giving to build a society where children can thrive.
In the statement, Green Umbrella said, “Children’s Day is the day society promises that every child has the right to be respected as an individual and to grow up happily.” The group added that society currently falls short of fully honoring the spirit of the holiday.
The organization warned that disparities in children’s living environments still leave some without basic safeguards. It urged that this Children’s Day go beyond mere commemoration and prompt a thorough reassessment of children’s lives.
Green Umbrella identified key priorities for a child-friendly society: strengthening protections for children in digital spaces, expanding support for children from migrant backgrounds, closing regional gaps in conditions that affect child development, and promoting a culture of sharing that benefits children.
The statement noted that online spaces are now central to children’s daily lives, yet safeguards against exposure to harmful content and other risks are insufficient. It called for stronger platform accountability and an institutional framework to ensure children’s safety online.
Regarding children from migrant backgrounds, the group said these children often face developmental challenges due to language and cultural barriers and gaps in institutional support, and it urged the creation of comprehensive support systems that include education and care.
Green Umbrella also highlighted regional disparities in the conditions that shape childhood. It said differences in health, education and welfare infrastructure—even within the same province—translate into unequal childhoods, and it urged policy design and implementation at the city, county and district levels that reflect children’s real circumstances.
The group called for broader community engagement in promoting child well-being, saying that government and local authorities should act alongside individuals and businesses, and that Children’s Day in May should be used to expand acts of sharing and support for children.
Hwang Young-gi, chairman of Green Umbrella, said, “Child happiness is our shared task and responsibility across the past, present and future,” and added, “Green Umbrella will continue to bring children under its umbrella and move them toward happiness.”
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