What can Korea do to better protect against sex offenders?

The government on Thursday put forward measures to prevent sexual violence at a meeting of related ministers chaired by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, but critics say the moves lack efficiency.

According to the proposed measures, the geographical scope of disclosure of a convicted sexual offender’s profiles will be expanded from the level of township to the level of a street name. But many critics say that will not generate the effect expected from the release of such profiles.

Countless people often live along a narrow alley, and telling who sexual offenders are that pose threat to "me and my family" with a street name alone will prove diffficult.

Experts advise that Korea needs to learn from more developed countries that publicize the identities of sexual offenders’ personal profiles in details. The U.S. and the U.K. made public the personal profile of a sexual offender to the level of an apartment building through the Megan Act of 1996 and to the level of a unit number via the Sarah Act of 2010. Securing a social safety net from a sexual crime is considered an important value in those countries.

The United Nations also recommends that countries introduce appropriate criminal systems for sexual crimes against minors, and has joined the efforts to proactively manage sexual offenders.

Heo Gyeong-mi, a professor of police administration at Kyemyung University in Daegu, said, “The U.S. denies protection of privacy guaranteed under its amended Constitution (for sex offenders) and releases not only detailed addresses but also vehicle plate numbers,” addin, “If Korea seeks to keep equity in the name of protection of criminals’ human rights, it will end up having a policy that is ambiguous at best and hardly effective.”

Critics also warn that the rules of heavier punishment for the production and distribution of child pornography could end up being a blank threat if not enforced adequately. Experts making punishments tougher is good but what would be more practical and effective is to elevate the efficiency of existing laws and regulations rather than using a passive method, in which authorities rhetorically pledge to toughen punishment and thus add to fears among sexual offenders.

At Thursday’s meeting, the government decided to revise related laws and regulations to the effect that a producer or distributor of child pornography will be granted a prison term of 10 years or more (from five years or longer). But experts say what is more important is stricter enforcement of existing laws rather than introducing heavier punishment. They say a sexual offender should face stern prosecution by being disallowed a suspended sentence even if he is a first-time offender.

Kim Il-soo, a professor at Korea University School of Law, said, “If a sexual offender is incarcerated for a certain period of time even when granted a stay of execution by the court, the offender will vividly realize how serious his anti-social behavior was,” adding, “It could be more effective to revise and improve rules in a way that makes criminals realize the seriousness of their crimes.”

"Korea urgently needs to toughen the punishment for simple possession of child pornography from the current fine of up to 20 million won (17,500 U.S. dollars).”

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