[Exclusive] Sunflower Centers for 'Sexual Violence Victim Support': 59% Ride Free Without a Budget

Free Use of Hospital Space at 24 Centers Nationwide
Relocation Issue Arises in Ulsan After Free Lease Ends
Kim Jeongjae: "Government Must Develop a Funding Plan"

The Sunflower Center, which provides integrated support to victims of sexual violence and domestic violence, has expanded for more than 20 years without even a basic budget for expenses such as rent. About 59% of the 41 centers nationwide rely on affiliated hospitals to provide space rent-free, prompting calls for funding to ensure sustainable operations.

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jeongjae, chair of the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee

According to data from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family obtained by the office of Kim Jeongjae, a People Power Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, the Integrated Support Center for Victims of Sexual Violence, known as the Sunflower Center, opened its first location in Seoul in 2004. Over the past five years, the number of centers nationwide has grown from 39 to 41. During that period, the centers' total workforce increased to 520. The support services provided to victims and their families, including ▲medical care ▲psychological support ▲counseling and ▲investigative and legal assistance, also rose to more than 400,000 cases annually.

Although the Sunflower Centers play a key role on the front lines of protecting victims of sexual and domestic violence, their operations face limitations. The centers operate under four-party agreements among the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, local governments, the National Police Agency and local hospitals. Currently, 24 centers (58.54%) use space provided rent-free by affiliated hospitals. The remaining centers pay nominal rent and maintenance fees from their operating budgets for space in hospitals or in buildings nearby.

Because the centers operate on the goodwill of private organizations without a separate budget for their use of space, problems have emerged. The Ulsan Sunflower Center had used space at a particular hospital rent-free for more than 10 years, but the issue of relocating next year came to light and recently sparked controversy. During a parliamentary audit of Ulsan City by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on October 21, lawmakers raised the issue and called for measures to address it.

Committee Chair Kim said, "The Sunflower Centers have continued to expand over the past five years and provide support to more than 400,000 victims annually, yet they still depend on affiliated hospitals to provide their operating space rent-free." She added, "Ensuring stable and sustainable center operations is the government's responsibility. The government should develop measures to provide the necessary budget for rent and relocation costs so that victims can receive protection without interruption."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.