From Avoided Department to Popular Department
Stricter Social Awareness of Sexual Crimes
Need for Investigation Capability to Prevent Secondary Damage
"Sexual violence investigations are now a special area."
Recently, the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Yeojobu), which handles sexual violence cases, has become a popular department among prosecutors. Yeojobu, once considered a department to avoid, is now recognized for its expertise and is said to be as preferred as the special investigation units.
The increased preference for Yeojobu among prosecutors is attributed to the strengthening of expertise in sexual violence investigations. In the past, sexual violence cases were regarded as general criminal cases, but now they are seen as a specialized field that is difficult to handle without investigative experience. Stricter social awareness of sex crimes and legal amendments that have increased sentencing and additional measures have influenced this change.
In sexual violence cases, in addition to criminal punishment, additional measures such as disclosure of personal information, employment restrictions, probation, and electronic monitoring devices may be imposed. Prosecutors sometimes make 'conditional suspension of prosecution' decisions when imposing these additional measures, so they must be well-versed in sentencing standards and case handling directions. Careful investigative skills are also required to protect the victim’s identity and prevent secondary damage.
A chief prosecutor working in the metropolitan area said, "In the past, there was a perception that 'any prosecutor can handle sexual violence cases,' but that is no longer true," adding, "Additional measures must be imposed, and without experience, handling cases becomes difficult."
The recent increase in cyber sex crimes such as 'deepfake' and 'distribution of sexual exploitation materials' has also strengthened Yeojobu’s position. As new types of sex crimes increase, not only the number of cases but also the scope of prosecution investigations have expanded. This is because evidence collection in cyberspace and complex legal interpretations are often required. The reduction of the prosecution’s investigative scope has also indirectly influenced Yeojobu’s popularity. Prosecutors are applying to Yeojobu as it is one of the fields where they can maintain their professional expertise.
Some prosecutors choose Yeojobu to achieve both work-life balance and professional expertise. Sexual violence cases allow for predictable sentencing, and since the facts of the crimes are relatively simple, case handling becomes easier with experience. This contrasts with criminal departments that handle vast records and complex crime structures, such as embezzlement and breach of trust cases. It is also far from the work environment of special investigations, which require intense investigations often involving overnight work. Since the fee per case is relatively high, experience in Yeojobu is considered advantageous for prosecutors considering opening a law practice.
An anonymous prosecutor said, "In Yeojobu, you can maintain work-life balance while building professional experience as a prosecutor," adding, "Nowadays, there are as many applicants as for the Fair Trade Investigation Division or the Tax Crime Division."
The prosecution is also strengthening expertise at an organizational level to respond to new types of sex crimes. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has formed a Digital Sex Crime Response Task Force (TF) and held its first meeting on the 14th of last month. The TF plans to prepare case handling manuals by analyzing court rulings and sentencing standards. The aim is to establish guidelines so that frontline prosecutors can respond to new sex crimes such as 'deepfake.'
Im Hyun-kyung, Legal News Reporter
※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.
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