TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Lee Jing-lei (李靚蕾), the ex-wife of internationally known Taiwanese-American singer Leehom Wang (王力宏), made an impassioned plea on Wednesday (April 2) for stronger child protection measures in Taiwan. Speaking with measured determination at the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, Lee emphasized the urgent need for a strict work permit system to thoroughly vet workers whose jobs involve children. "Safeguarding children is a fundamental responsibility," she told legislators and assembled media, appearing alongside several legislators to urge the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部) to implement a comprehensive system ensuring that individuals working with children have no history of child abuse or sexual offenses.
Lee, whose public profile rose dramatically following her high-profile divorce, suggested a pragmatic compromise to address privacy concerns. "If authorities cannot disclose the personal information of sex offenders, they should at least identify those who are not offenders," she proposed, seeking to balance individual privacy rights with the imperative of child protection. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Fan Yun (范雲), a longtime advocate for social justice issues, stood beside Lee and highlighted six significant loopholes in the current regulatory framework. Fan pointed to troubling gaps in oversight, noting that summer camps and talent classes currently operate without registration requirements, making comprehensive monitoring of those who work with children virtually impossible.
Fan delved deeper into systemic issues, emphasizing that despite the Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) maintaining five separate "unsuitable person" databases connected with the National Police Agency (警政署), MOHW, and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ, 法務部), dangerous gaps remain that allow potential reoffenders to slip through. The current patchwork approach to background screening lacks the comprehensive integration needed for truly effective prevention. Fellow DPP Legislator Lin Yueh-chin (林月琴), who chairs a key legislative committee, addressed another dimension of the problem, pointing out the absence of child-friendly channels for young people to participate in the very legal reforms designed to protect them. Lin promised to hold public hearings and forums specifically focused on amendments to the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法), signaling a commitment to meaningful reform.
Government officials present at the legislative session offered measured responses to the proposals. Kuo Tsai-jung (郭彩榕), deputy director of the Department of Protective Services (衛福部保護司), expressed support for the spirit of the work permit system while cautioning that implementation would require complex data integration across various government agencies and explicit legal authorization. Another MOHW official, Lin Zih-ruei (林資芮), raised concerns about balancing protection with employment rights, stating that such a system would necessitate broader social consensus before formal legislative discussion could proceed. The advocacy represents a new chapter for Lee, who first captured national attention when her divorce from Wang in 2021 sparked widespread societal reflection on modern women's roles in marriage. She has since channeled her public platform into social advocacy, launching a podcast titled "Time with Jing-lei" (李靚蕾的沉靚時間), where she examines pressing social issues through a psychological lens.
