Demanding 'Conditional Meetings' from Peer Middle School Students and Group Assault
"Is the Juvenile Delinquent Law Suitable for the Current Era?" Growing Dissatisfaction
Proportion of Juvenile Violent Crimes in the Last 10 Years: 28.9% → 33.6%
Experts: "Criminal Minor Criteria Established Decades Ago"
"Adjustment Possible If Deemed Necessary"
As crimes committed by teenagers become increasingly violent, there is a growing call to abolish or revise the Juvenile Act and the system for criminal minors. / Photo by Asia Economy DB
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As brutal crimes by some teenagers, including group assaults, continue unabated, debates over the abolition or revision of the Juvenile Act and the status of criminally irresponsible juveniles are intensifying. There are criticisms that the Juvenile Act, enacted to correct juvenile offenders, is instead becoming a shield for juvenile criminals. On the other hand, some argue that to eradicate teenage crime, emphasis should be placed on correction and guidance rather than punishment. Experts suggest that if the current Juvenile Act is deemed inadequate in properly guiding juvenile offenders, partial amendments are necessary.
◆Middle school students assault peers after refusing 'conditional meeting'
The Pohang Northern Police Station in Gyeongbuk announced on the 20th that out of eight perpetrators aged 10 to 20 who forced a female middle school student into a 'conditional meeting' and assaulted her in a group, seven were detained except for one criminally irresponsible juvenile.
According to the police, the incident began with A (20). A instructed female middle school students he knew to bring girls willing to engage in conditional meetings. Three female middle school students who received the order pressured their peer, B, to comply, but B refused and reported the matter to the police.
Seven of the eight perpetrators in their teens and twenties who collectively assaulted a female middle school student of the same age group in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, have been detained. / Photo by Yonhap News
When the police investigation began, the female middle school students gathered friends and assaulted B in a group from the 7th to the morning of the 8th. A also participated in the assault, resulting in B being severely injured and transferred to a nearby intensive care unit for treatment.
B’s family detailed the assault on the Blue House's public petition board, urging strict punishment for the perpetrators.
A petitioner claiming to be a family member of B wrote under the title "The future of my 15-year-old sister was destroyed by criminally irresponsible juveniles and minor perpetrators forcing prostitution and group assault," stating, "The group assault began with my sister being forced to stand on a building rooftop," and "The scene was broadcast live via video calls and videos, spreading in real-time among peers."
They added, "They committed unimaginable atrocities such as repeatedly sexually assaulting my unconscious sister, spitting on her, and burning her with cigarettes," and expressed outrage, questioning, "Is the current system capable of protecting society and the present era when it comes to punishing these criminally irresponsible juveniles and minors?"
◆Unrelenting violent crimes by teenagers... increase over 10 years
Cases of serious crimes committed by teenagers continue without pause.
In February, controversy erupted when middle school students assaulted an elderly man by strangling him in a subway car in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, while hurling severe insults.
A video showing middle school students assaulting an elderly person by choking him on the subway in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, and using severe profanity has sparked controversy. / Photo by YouTube Capture
Last July, public outrage arose when it was revealed that an elementary school student in Incheon was assaulted for about two and a half hours by five other elementary and middle school students.
All of these perpetrators were criminally irresponsible juveniles, making it highly unlikely they would face criminal punishment. Under current law, minors aged 10 to under 14 who commit crimes are classified as criminally irresponsible juveniles and receive protective measures such as custody, community service, or transfer to juvenile detention centers instead of criminal prosecution. No criminal records are kept.
Those aged 14 to 19 are classified as juvenile offenders. Depending on the severity of the crime, they may face criminal punishment or be sent to juvenile court for protective measures.
Meanwhile, teenage crime has become increasingly brutal over the past decade. According to crime analysis statistics released by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on January 14, the proportion of violent crimes among juvenile crimes rose from 28.9% in 2009 to 33.6% in 2019. Notably, sex crimes committed by minors more than doubled from 1,574 cases in 2009 to 3,180 cases in 2019.
◆"The criminally irresponsible juvenile system was created in the 1950s... not an absolute standard"
Given the situation, voices calling for the abolition of the Juvenile Act or lowering the age of criminal irresponsibility are growing louder.
Office worker Choi (34) said, "With news of group assaults happening in elementary and middle schools these days, I worry that my child might become a victim someday," adding, "I also think the Juvenile Act and the criminally irresponsible juvenile system might be making youths more violent. Children who commit wrongdoings should not be forgiven unconditionally; they need to be strictly punished to be corrected."
The proportion of violent crimes among juvenile offenses increased to 33.6% as of 2019. / Photo by Yonhap News
University student Lee (26) said, "I don't believe harsh punishment always lowers crime rates, but I think juvenile crimes these days are severe," emphasizing, "Regardless of age, those who commit crimes should receive appropriate punishment for a fair society."
On the other hand, some argue that harsh punishment alone is not the answer. Office worker Park in his 20s said, "Even if juvenile offenders are criminally punished, considering their age, they will eventually be released and return to society," adding, "If they are not properly corrected by then, they could pose an even greater social threat. Ultimately, active guidance and correction are important; simple punishment solves nothing."
Experts suggest that considering the changed social environment in Korea compared to the past, there is a need for social consensus to revise the Juvenile Act.
Professor Oh Yoonseong of Soonchunhyang University’s Department of Police Administration said, "The standard for criminally irresponsible juveniles was established in the 1950s," pointing out, "Since it was created decades ago, it cannot be assumed to fully align with current social circumstances."
He added, "The current standard defines criminally irresponsible juveniles as those aged 10 to under 14, but if it is judged that this standard cannot properly punish or guide juvenile offenders today, lowering the age by about one year could be considered."
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