Will the Officially Proposed 'Jupok Prevention Act' Pass the National Assembly Threshold After 16 Years?

Representative Kim Yong-pan Leads Legislation...Ruling Party Lawmakers Join
Strengthening Punishment for Alcohol-Related Crimes and Specifying Protection Authority
Frontline Police Welcome "Need to Change Lenient Attitudes Toward Alcohol"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The so-called 'Drunken Violence Prevention Act,' which establishes legal grounds for protecting intoxicated individuals and imposes heavier penalties on crimes committed under the influence, has been reintroduced in the 21st National Assembly and referred to a parliamentary subcommittee. Frontline police officers are expressing high expectations, saying, "This time, it must be enacted."

According to the National Assembly Legislative Information System on the 19th, the "Act on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes by Intoxicated Persons," originally proposed on April 21 by Kim Yong-pan, a former police officer and member of the People Power Party, was submitted to the full meeting of the Public Administration and Security Committee on the 13th of this month and then referred to the bill subcommittee. Notably, although the bill was introduced by an opposition party member, it has drawn attention as ruling party lawmakers with police and fire service backgrounds, including Im Ho-seon and Oh Young-hwan of the Democratic Party, as well as Kim Min-cheol and Jeon Hye-sook from the same party, have joined as co-sponsors.

The bill includes provisions to strengthen punishments for crimes committed by intoxicated individuals. It aims to enhance penalties for offenses commonly committed by intoxicated persons, such as obstruction of official duties, arson, traffic obstruction, assault, sexual assault, obstruction of business, trespassing, and property damage, with aggravated penalties for repeat offenders. At the same time, it specifies the legal authority of the police, fire services, and local governments to protect intoxicated individuals. Intoxicated persons involved in incidents will be handled by the police, those in emergency situations by the fire services, and local governments will designate and operate medical institutions to protect intoxicated individuals. Lawmaker Kim stated, "I hope this will be an opportunity to change the society's lenient attitude toward alcohol."

Legislation to strengthen protection and punishment related to intoxicated individuals was first introduced in the 17th National Assembly in 2005 (Act on the Protection of Intoxicated Persons, etc.) and again in the 19th National Assembly in 2012 (Partial Amendment to the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes), but was repeatedly stalled due to lack of social consensus and cost issues. Meanwhile, crimes committed by intoxicated persons have continued steadily; as of 2019, 65.7% of obstruction of official duties crimes and 27.9% of violent crimes were committed by intoxicated individuals. Following the implementation of the autonomous police system in July this year, the Chungnam Autonomous Police Committee selected and launched the establishment of a 'Drunken Emergency Medical Center' as its first project, and agreements among police, local governments, and hospitals to expand such centers nationwide have been signed one after another.

Frontline police officers welcome the reintroduction of the Drunken Violence Prevention Act. Sergeant A, a patrol team leader at a metropolitan area police substation, said, "If even a little of the manpower and time spent on intoxicated individuals can be redirected to local public safety, security services for residents will be greatly expanded." Patrol team member B from the Gyeonggi region also pointed out, "Since the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of intoxicated individuals have only shifted from early morning hours to around 9 to 10 p.m., with no change in the volume of reports. There needs to be a change in the lenient perception of alcohol."

The National Police Agency is also reportedly reviewing the Drunken Violence Prevention Act positively. A National Police Agency official said, "We see the need for systematic protection of intoxicated individuals by legally specifying the roles of the police, fire services, and local governments as the main bodies responsible for their protection."