"Hey XX" Swearing and "I'm a Juvenile Offender lol"... Cunning Kids

Profanity and Obscene Images Posted in Online Classes
Brutal Juvenile Crimes Including Vehicle Theft and Elderly Assault
Serious Crimes Share Increased from 28.9% to 33.6% Over 10 Years
Experts Say Current Juvenile Law Standards Were Established During Japanese Occupation
"Discussion Needed at National Assembly Level to Adjust Age Criteria"

A netizen who joined an online class conducted by Professor Yoon Ji-seon of Sejong University and showered it with abusive language claimed that "I am a juvenile offender and therefore not subject to criminal punishment," sparking controversy. / Photo by Internet Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Controversy is growing around the 'Chokbeop Sonyeon' system, which exempts criminal minors (aged 10 to under 14) from criminal punishment. This comes as cases have been repeatedly reported where youths who insult adults with offensive language or steal vehicles and valuables are not criminally punished simply because they are classified as Chokbeop Sonyeon.

According to Sejong University on the 23rd, on the morning of the previous day (22nd), during an online class by Professor Yoon Ji-seon of the Philosophy Department at the university, an unidentified outsider accessed the lecture, posting obscene images and spewing abusive language in the chat window.

When Professor Yoon warned, "Everything you are doing here is being captured and will be legally dealt with," the outsider responded, "Yeah, I'm a Chokbeop Sonyeon." This is interpreted as a claim that they are a criminal minor and therefore not subject to criminal punishment. The outsider then continued with insulting remarks targeting Professor Yoon, calling her a "kkolpemi professor" (a derogatory term combining "kkol" meaning disgusting and "femi" referring to feminist).

There were about 40 students enrolled in the class, and the lecture could only be accessed by clicking a specific link. It is not yet known from whom the outsider received the link.

Sejong University is reportedly gathering evidence and plans to file a complaint with the police.

On the 25th of last month, MBC reported that the suspect in a vehicle theft incident that occurred recently in a residential area of Wonju, Gangwon Province, is a juvenile offender under the age of 14. / Photo by MBC

Meanwhile, if the outsider is indeed a Chokbeop Sonyeon, the likelihood of criminal punishment is very low. Criminal minors aged 10 to under 14 who commit crimes are classified as Chokbeop Sonyeon and receive protective measures such as custody orders, community service, or transfer to juvenile detention centers instead of criminal punishment. No criminal record is created.

Cases where juvenile offenders who commit serious crimes avoid criminal punishment are increasingly emerging. According to an MBC 'News Desk' report on the 25th of last month, four 14-year-old middle school students in a residential area of Wonju, Gangwon Province, were confirmed to have committed multiple vehicle thefts.

These middle school students drove the stolen vehicles over long distances and even spent 300,000 won using credit cards found inside the cars. Although they were caught by the police during the crimes, they were able to continue their offenses without significant punishment due to being classified as Chokbeop Sonyeon.

Last month in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, a video spread showing middle school students assaulting an elderly person by choking him on the subway and uttering severe insults, sparking public outrage. / Photo by YouTube capture

In the same month, controversy arose when middle school students assaulted an elderly person by strangling him and verbally abusing him in a subway car in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. These youths are also classified as Chokbeop Sonyeon, making criminal charges impossible; they are expected to receive protective measures from the juvenile court.

Teenage youth crimes are becoming increasingly brutal. According to crime analysis statistics from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 14th of last month, the proportion of violent crimes among juvenile crimes rose from 28.9% in 2009 to 33.6% in 2019. Particularly, sexual violence crimes committed by minors more than doubled from 1,574 cases in 2009 to 3,180 cases in 2019.

The proportion of violent crimes among juvenile crimes committed by teenagers rose to 33.6% as of 2019. / Photo by Yonhap News

Given this situation, citizens have expressed outrage, saying, "Chokbeop Sonyeon should be punished according to the severity of their crimes."

A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "Kids these days are cunning. They learn everything online and know whether they will be criminally punished or not," adding, "If serious offenders are not properly punished just because they are minors, how can we know if they won't become more serious criminals?"

Another office worker, Mr. B (32), who learned about the heinous crimes of juvenile offenders through the news, said, "The things kids do these days seem even more brutal than adults," and lamented, "Just because they are kids doesn't mean there are no victims. Why aren't they punished equally?"

Graduate student Mr. C (33) argued, "Even if it starts as a minor deviation, if repeated, it could lead to serious crimes later," and stated, "Protective measures are not the solution; I believe strict punishment is necessary to correct juvenile offenders early."

Experts have suggested that considering the changed domestic environment compared to the past, the National Assembly should begin discussions to adjust the age exemption for criminal punishment.

Attorney Oh Si-young said on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal,' "In Korea, criminal punishment is not applied to Chokbeop Sonyeon; instead, the Juvenile Act is applied, treating them only as subjects for guidance and education," and pointed out, "The problem is that children of that age all know they are exempt from criminal punishment. They have become cunning enough to exploit the law."

He added, "Tracing back to the origin of the criminal law, the age standard for Chokbeop Sonyeon was established during the Japanese colonial period," and advised, "Recently, many foreign countries have lowered this standard to 12 or 13 years old. It is necessary for the National Assembly to discuss adjusting the age standard for Chokbeop Sonyeon domestically as well."