Most Victims of Sex Crimes Against Children and Adolescents Are Female... Average Age 14, Digital Crimes on the Rise

Proportion of Digital Sex Crimes Against Children and Adolescents Rises
Average Prison Sentence for Offenders Increases by 18 Months Over Four Years

The proportion of 'digital sex crimes' among sex crimes targeting children and adolescents has increased.

According to the "Trends and Analysis of Sex Crimes Against Children and Adolescents" report released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on April 30, an analysis was conducted on 3,452 court rulings in 2023 that resulted in a final conviction and mandatory registration of personal information for perpetrators of sex crimes against children and adolescents under the age of 19. The findings are as follows.

Government Seoul Office Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

According to the court rulings analyzed, there were 3,452 perpetrators and 4,661 victims.

Based on the perpetrators, the most common type of crime was indecent assault (32.7%), followed by rape (24.3%), sexual exploitation materials (17.5%), and prostitution (6.1%). Online grooming, which involves conversations or luring for the purpose of sexual exploitation, accounted for 0.3% (10 cases).

Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of sex crimes such as rape, quasi-rape, and other sexual violence decreased from 75.7% to 62.7%. The proportion of prostitution crimes also decreased from 11.3% to 9.2%. However, digital sex crimes involving sexual exploitation materials and camera-based illegal filming showed a marked increase, rising from 8.3% to 24.0% during the same period.

Regarding the nature of digital sex crimes against children and adolescents, 46.2% of the victimized images were videos, 43.9% were photos, and 3.7% were other reproductions. In 47.6% of cases, the perpetrator filmed or produced the images, while in 49.8% of cases, the victim self-filmed or produced the images due to luring or threats. The proportion of self-filmed or self-produced images by victims increased by more than 30 percentage points in four years, from 19.1% in 2019.

Cases involving threats of distribution accounted for 15.1%, and actual distribution of sexual images occurred in 11.1% of cases. The most common medium for distribution was general messenger apps, accounting for 35.7%. In 40.5% of distributed images, the victimized children or adolescents could be identified due to exposure of their face or personal information.

Regarding the final sentences for perpetrators of sex crimes against children and adolescents, 36.8% received prison sentences, 56.1% received suspended sentences, and 6.5% were fined.

The average prison sentence for sex crimes against children and adolescents was 44 months (3 years and 8 months). For rape, the average was 55.6 months (4 years and 7.6 months); for quasi-rape, 55.1 months (4 years and 7.1 months); and for sexual exploitation materials, 47.9 months (3 years and 11.9 months), all higher than the overall average.

The average prison sentence for digital sex crimes against children and adolescents increased from 24.5 months in 2019 to 42.5 months in 2023, an increase of 18 months. The proportion of cases resulting in sentences of three years or more also rose significantly during this period, from 23.8% to 58.8%.

For sexual exploitation material crimes, which account for the highest proportion of digital sex crimes, the average prison sentence increased by 12 months, from 35.9 months in 2019 to 47.9 months in 2023.

Of the victims of sex crimes against children and adolescents, 91.3% were female. The average age of victims was 14. Among them, 24.3% were under the age of 13.

Nearly all victims of forced prostitution and solicitation/brokering (100% female) and rape (99.4% female) were female. However, the proportion of male victims was in the 10% range for indecent assault (11.7% male), quasi-rape (10.8% male), and threats or coercion using images (10.2% male).

In 64.1% of cases, the perpetrator was an acquaintance other than a family member or relative; in 29.3%, the perpetrator was a complete stranger; and in 6.3%, the perpetrator was a family member or relative. The proportion of "acquaintances other than family or relatives" has continued to increase from 50.2% in 2019.

This year, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Science and ICT to establish an artificial intelligence (AI)-based proactive response system for online sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, in order to create a safer online environment. The system will use AI to automatically detect and respond to online grooming and sexual exploitation materials involving children and adolescents.