Up to Double Sentences for Serious Crimes Against Children
New Cyber Insult Offense Introduced, Stricter Punishment Standards
On May 17, the People Power Party pledged to lower the minimum age for juvenile offenders subject to criminal prosecution for serious crimes from the current 14 years old to 12 years old, and to increase the sentences for serious crimes against children by up to twice the current level.
People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Munsu is holding a focused campaign rally on the 16th in front of Olive Young Cheongju Town in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Photo by Yonhap News
The People Power Party's Policy Headquarters announced these 'public safety' pledges, stating, "We will ensure that the most basic aspects of daily life for the public are not threatened and that precious routines are protected."
The term 'juvenile offender' refers to individuals aged 10 to under 14 who are not subject to criminal punishment even if they commit a crime. If the minimum age is lowered to 12, the range of those exempt from prosecution will be reduced.
The People Power Party stated, "We will raise the minimum sentences for serious crimes and reorganize the criteria for enhanced punishment of repeat offenders," adding, "We will apply a zero-tolerance policy to crimes with a high risk of recidivism, such as electronic monitoring device tampering, repeated stalking, and retaliatory crimes."
The support function for 'female' victims will be renamed to 'victim' support to encompass both male and female victims. For example, 'Women's Emergency Hotline 1366' will be changed to 'Violence Emergency Hotline 1366', and 'Residential Support for Female Victims of Violence' will be changed to 'Residential Support for Victims of Violence'.
Protection against jeonse fraud will also be strengthened. The system will be revised so that a 'Certificate of Guarantee Insurance Availability' from guarantee institutions can be issued before contracts are signed, and the 'Jeonse and Monthly Rent Safe Contract Assistance Service' will be upgraded and expanded nationwide.
In order to prevent incidents like the recent large-scale USIM information leak at SK Telecom, companies and institutions with significant influence will be designated as major information and communications infrastructure, and the scope of information subject to encryption will be expanded.
Given the rapid increase in cyber verbal abuse driven by anonymity and non-face-to-face interactions, a new 'cyber insult offense' will be established, and efforts will be made to strengthen punishment standards. The plan is to amend the Criminal Act or the Information and Communications Network Act to separately define acts of insult in online spaces.
The People Power Party explained, "If the cyber insult offense is codified, separate sentencing and punishment standards for the degree of harm caused by online comments and posts can be specified in the law, which could result in harsher penalties compared to general insult offenses."
To address public anxiety over sinkholes (ground subsidence), a comprehensive maintenance plan will be established for old sewer pipelines over 30 years old, and support will be provided for research and development (R&D) such as expanding ground exploration equipment and developing related technologies.
To prevent a recurrence of the 'Jeju Air passenger plane disaster', the party announced plans to establish a fully independent or semi-independent 'National Aviation Safety Agency', and to transfer the Aircraft and Railway Accident Investigation Committee, currently under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to the National Aviation Safety Agency and other relevant bodies.
In addition, they promised to significantly increase the number of medium- and large-sized helicopters for wildfire suppression, and to establish a large-scale wildfire response system utilizing fixed-wing aircraft and large unmanned helicopters.
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