Criminal Records of 4.35 Million People to Be Deleted

The criminal records of individuals who received sentences on custody, correctional fine and forfeiture, and had their sentences commuted or dropped altogether will be deleted no later than first half of this year.

As a result, 4.35 million people with criminal records until end of last year, 33 percent of the total 12.96 million people who have criminal records (28 percent of total nation), will be free from the `status of ex-convict`.

The government decided to improve the recording and preservation system of criminal records through the related Ministers’ meeting chaired by Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong, and announced the `general measure to lessen ex-convicts`.

Minimizing the concept of criminal records, the government decided to divide the investigation information sheet, on which one’s criminal records are written, into `criminal history (temporary name)` for individuals who were charged fines, and `investigation history (temporary name)` for the individuals who were fined or not prosecuted, and the investigation history will be excluded from the criminal records.

In addition, an inquiry about criminal records will be given access to only the case of criminal investigation and trial, and the investigation information sheet for acquittals and those not prosecuted will be deleted from criminal records after a period similar to the prosecution expiration timeline.

klimt@donga.com