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Staff Reporter
Rep. Kwak Jung-sook of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party and women’s organizations have requested a revision of the laws related to sexual assault that would make indictment possible without the filing of an official complaint.
Kwak and organizations including the Female Rights Commission of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, Korea Womenlink and Korea Women’s Hotline, held a press conference at the National Assembly, Tuesday, urging for the amendment.
“Violent sex crimes such as the recent rape and murder case in Busan are increasing, but politicians are preoccupied with penalties like the electronic anklet and chemical castration,” a representative of one organization said. Currently, action against sexual assault is only possible when the victim files a complaint against the assailant.
Feminist groups say punishment of sex criminals does not prevent assaults. “The rate of accusation or reports of sexual assault is only 7.1 percent and 43.2 percent of these cases lead to indictment, and not all those accused are guilty.
In other words, the number of convicted sex offenders is insignificant compared to the total number of sexual abusers,” the representative said.
“It is a defect in the criminal law if sex offenders are not punished because victims to do not charge them,” she added.
Kwak said: “The pertinent revision should take time and need ample research to protect victims and prevent further sex crimes.”
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
