Additional Amendment to the 'Jeongin Act'... Establishment of Child Abuse Homicide Crime

Imprisonment Over 7 Years Heavier Than Murder Charge

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] From now on, those who abuse and kill children will face harsher punishments than murder charges.

On the 24th, the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee held a bill subcommittee meeting and passed a revision to the Special Act on Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes reflecting this content. The amendment establishes the new crime of "child abuse homicide," punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for seven years or more. This penalty is heavier than the statutory punishment for murder under the Criminal Act (imprisonment for five years or more).

Earlier in January, the ruling and opposition parties passed the so-called "Jeong-in Act," a revision to the Special Act on Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, and regarding the increase in statutory penalties, they continued discussions considering possible side effects. Subsequently, the Judiciary Committee decided to introduce the new crime of child abuse homicide rather than increasing the sentences for existing child abuse manslaughter offenses. The amendment also mandates the appointment of public defenders and public assistants for child abuse crime cases to strengthen the protection of victimized children during investigation and trial processes.

On the same day, the bill subcommittee also approved the so-called "Sarang-i and Hae-in Act (Family Relations Registration Act amendment)," which allows unmarried fathers to register births. The amendment permits fathers to register the birth through family court confirmation even if the biological mother does not cooperate without justifiable reason. Under current law, if a child is born out of wedlock, only the mother can register the birth in principle. Fathers can register only when the mother's name and residence are unknown.

The Judiciary Committee also considered introducing a system allowing birth registration without regard to the relationship with the biological mother if paternity is confirmed through genetic testing for children born out of wedlock, but decided to continue discussions later due to concerns that the child's legal status might become unstable.