Body Touching Ruled Child Sex Crime

From as early as the second half of next year, touching a part of the body of a minor under 19 years old will constitute as a child sex crime.

A revised bill on “protecting children from sexual crimes” was passed in a Cabinet meeting presided by Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan at the Central Government Complex on November 1. The bill would strengthen punishment for child sex offenders.

According to the bill, not only paying a child for having sexual intercourse but also touching a part of or the entire body of a child and showing a child a masturbation scene will count as a sex crime against a child.

In addition, the period when victims can report child rape and sexual molestation will be extended from the current six months to one year up to two years from the time when they first become aware of the offender. The family court juvenile division can take into custody children aged 12 or 13 who committed a sexual crime.

Those who are sentenced to punishment heavier than imprisonment for a child sex crime on more than two occasions will be registered in the National Youth Commission under the wing of the Office of the Prime Minister. Also, their profiles will be made public to heads of education organizations for children and victims.

Hyung-June Park lovesong@donga.com