Ministry delays proposal to lower age of juvenile criminal immunity, says more discussion needed
The proposal would lower the age threshold for juvenile offenders exempt from criminal prosecution from 14 to 13, a move that appears to have the support of the public at large as youth crime spikes.
A bronze statue symbolizing justice is seen in a courtroom in Ansan, Gyeonggi, on June 9.NEWS1
A government proposal to lower the age threshold for juvenile offenders exempt from criminal prosecution from 14 to 13 failed to reach Cabinet review, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said on Monday.
At the heart of the proposal was determining the upper age limit for chokbeop sonyeon — children old enough to break the law but too young to be punished for it under the Korean criminal justice system.
“The outcome of public discussions on the age threshold of chokbeop sonyeon would not be submitted for review at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting,” the ministry wrote in a notification to reporters.
Any future schedule will be announced at a later date, the ministry said.
The Gender Equality Ministry and the Ministry of Justice had recently agreed to pursue a conditional revision to lower the age of criminal immunity from under 14 to under 13 in cases of “serious crime.”
However, the ministry's original plan to present the proposal to the Cabinet as early as Tuesday was thwarted after officials concluded that further discussion was needed to define which offenses would constitute serious crimes.
Under Korea's current Criminal Act, those below the age of 14 cannot be held criminally responsible, whatever the offense. Instead, chokbeop sonyeon aged 10 to 13 may face corrective orders. Those under 10 are totally free from criminal prosecution and corrective orders.
Debate over the age threshold of chokbeop sonyeon began in February after President Lee Jae Myung called for a public opinion survey.
"An overwhelming majority of the public seems to believe the age should be lowered by one year,” the president said. “Let's gather public opinion and reach a conclusion in two months.”
Won Min-kyong, minister of Gender Equality and Family, right, attends a town-hall meeting to discuss adjusting the age threshold of criminal liability for juvenile offenders at the central government complex in central Seoul on April 21.MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY AND FAMILY
The proposed revision was also driven by a rise in crimes committed by chokbeop sonyeon. The number of juveniles exempt from criminal prosecution apprehended by police rose 2.2-fold between 2020 and 2024, according to data submitted by the National Police Agency.
Since March, the ministry has operated a social dialogue committee composed of experts and civic representatives. At its final plenary meeting on April 30, the committee recommended retaining the current age range for criminal immunity.
The government, however, revised its proposal to a conditional change that would lower the threshold only for serious crimes. Authorities cited growing concerns over increasing juvenile crime and strong public support for tougher punishment.
Public sentiment has largely favored stricter measures.
In a Gallup Korea poll conducted in March, 81 percent of 1,002 respondents supported lowering the age threshold. The recent Netflix hit series “Teach You a Lesson,” which centers on punishing juvenile offenders, has also gained popularity amid growing calls for harsher penalties.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
