According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on June 28, the South Korean government plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility for minors. The applicable age standard for some criminal responsibilities will be reduced from 14 years old to 13 years old. In recent years, the number of juvenile crimes in South Korea has been increasing, and an increasing number of South Koreans are demanding that the government take measures to address the rising rate of juvenile crime.
According to current Korean law, minors who are 10 years old or above but under 14 years old do not need to bear criminal responsibility. They only receive protective measures such as social services, protective supervision, and placement in juvenile homes. Additionally, no criminal record is retained.
However, in recent years, the number of crimes committed by teenagers in South Korea who are under 14 years old has been increasing, causing concern among the public in South Korea. Statistical data from the Supreme Court of South Korea shows that the number of cases involving juvenile crime has increased from 7,897 in 2017 to 12,500 in 2021.
June 23, President Lee Jae-myung attended a meeting at the presidential palace. IC photo
According to data from the South Korean Ministry of Justice, the proportion of minors under 14 years old who commit serious crimes has increased from 2.3% in 2005 to 4.8% in recent years. Among these crimes, sexual offenses have seen a particularly significant increase in proportion; their share has risen from 36.3% in 2000 to 86.2% in 2020.
More and more Korean citizens are calling on the South Korean government to take measures to punish minors who commit serious violent crimes. A poll conducted by Gallup in Korea in March this year showed that approximately 80% of respondents agreed with lowering the age of criminal responsibility.
According to Yonhap, the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and the Ministry of Justice have reached a consensus to lower the age for applying some criminal responsibilities from 14 years old to 13 years old.
However, the adjustment plan has still sparked controversy in South Korea. Some institutions concerned with juvenile crime oppose lowering the age standards. Sources reveal that the South Korean Ministry of Justice is developing detailed guidelines, and it is expected that this adjustment will primarily apply to serious crimes such as homicide, robbery, sexual offenses, and collective violence. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in South Korea is scheduled to submit the proposal at a state council meeting on June 30.
