An activist holds a banner that says, "Dodging responsibility for taking care of children is child abuse," as members of a group for children's rights hold a rally in front of the Seoul Central District Public Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, in this July 7, 2020, file photo. The government on Thursday imposed international travel bans or other penalties on 164 parents for refusing to pay child support expenses to the respective custodial parents after divorce. Newsis

The government has imposed international travel bans or other penalties on 164 parents for refusing to pay child support expenses to the respective custodial parents after divorce.

At Thursday's meeting, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced its decision to prohibit 117 of them from traveling overseas and suspend the driver's licenses of 43 others. The ministry also decided to reveal the personal information of the remaining four on its website, such as their names, occupations and addresses.

This move comes amid growing calls for stronger administrative action against such parents, as holding them accountable for their irresponsibility remains a challenging process that could take years.

The ministry did not reveal the sex ratio of those sanctioned this time. But past data showed that most of such parents are men, as mothers usually get custody of children after divorce.

Those who have refused to comply with court orders to pay child support expenses could be subject to the ministry's sanctions.

The number of people who have been put on the list has so far increased to 630 since the ministry first implemented the policy in late 2021. Of them, 163, or 26 percent, have since paid a full or partial amount of their share.

The policy is expected to be more effective in September when the government agency in charge of child maintenance expense issues between divorced couples will be granted more independence and authority.