Recent data reveals a shocking truth: only 25% of child and youth sex crime cases in South Korea over the past five years have resulted in a guilty verdict. From 2020 to April 2025, out of 5,841 child sex crime-related lawsuits received by nationwide judicial authorities, only 1,481 cases (25.4%) led to a guilty verdict for the perpetrator. This averages out to approximately 247 guilty verdicts per year. Amidst criticism of lenient punishments, there's a growing call for urgent and practical measures to eradicate child sex crimes.
Significant Regional Disparities: Central Department Records Most Cases
Judicial data shows that out of the total 5,841 cases, the central department received the highest number at 1,896, indicating significant regional disparities. Alto Paraná, the capital, and Itapúa followed with high numbers. This suggests that child sex crimes are either more frequent in certain regions or that reporting and judicial procedures are more active there. Tailored prevention and response strategies are necessary to address these regional characteristics.
Diverse Victim Ages: 10-13 Year Olds Most Vulnerable
Victims of child sex crimes also span various age groups. According to prosecution statistics, 53% of victims in child sex crime cases reported between 2021 and April 2025 were between 10 and 13 years old. Children aged 5 to 9 accounted for 34%, and infants/toddlers aged 4 or younger made up 14%, demonstrating that children of all ages are vulnerable to sexual offenses. The particular vulnerability of elementary school-aged children highlights the need to strengthen education and prevention programs targeting this group.
98% of Perpetrators are Male, Concentrated in 30-49 Age Group
Under the Law on the Registration of Child and Adolescent Sexual Offenders (6572/2020), which came into effect in 2020, 1,047 convicted sex offenders have been registered, with 98% identified as male. Furthermore, the age group of 30 to 49 constituted the largest proportion of perpetrators, indicating that crimes committed by middle-aged men are frequent. Based on these perpetrator characteristics, tailored prevention and recidivism prevention measures are required.
Prosecution Records Over 15,000 Child Sex Crimes: Lack of Integrated Statistics
It's noteworthy that statistics from the judiciary and the prosecution differ. While the judiciary reported 5,841 lawsuits filed between 2020 and April 2025, the prosecution stated that 15,023 child sex crime cases were reported nationwide between 2021 and April 2025. Specifically, 2,966 cases were reported in 2021, 3,812 in 2022, 3,563 in 2023, and 3,546 in 2024. This discrepancy in statistics makes it difficult to accurately grasp the current state of child sex crimes and underscores the urgent need for a unified national statistical system. Currently, the government lacks a consolidated list and analysis of cases submitted to the judicial system.
Civil Society Raises Voice on 'Day Against Child and Adolescent Sexual Crimes and Exploitation'
These statistics were released on the 'Day Against Child and Adolescent Sexual Crimes and Exploitation.' To commemorate this day, various civil organizations held a street march in Asunción, strongly advocating for national policies to prevent child sex crimes, support victims, and facilitate their recovery. Civil society emphasized that the state must raise awareness about child sex crimes, strengthen preventive education, establish integrated support systems for child victims, and impose strict penalties on perpetrators to create an environment where children can grow safely and healthily.
Multi-faceted Efforts Needed to Eradicate Child Sex Crimes
The low conviction rate and disparate statistics indicate that several challenges remain in addressing child sex crime issues. To effectively eradicate child sex crimes, the following efforts are necessary:
Improve Judicial Procedures: Judicial procedures should be improved to account for the unique nature of child sex crime cases, aiming to increase conviction rates and prevent secondary victimization of child victims. Ways to secure the credibility of child victims' testimonies and enhance the effectiveness of perpetrator punishment must be explored.
Establish Integrated Statistical System: A national integrated statistical system for child sex crimes must be established to enable effective policy formulation based on an accurate understanding of the current situation. Information sharing and cooperation between relevant agencies, including the judiciary, prosecution, and police, are essential.
Strengthen Preventive Education: Education to raise awareness about child sex crimes and empower children to protect themselves should be strengthened. Education for parents, teachers, and the general public is also crucial, as it can warn potential perpetrators and encourage public vigilance, thereby preventing crimes before they occur.
Expand Victim Support: A comprehensive support system including psychological counseling, legal aid, and social reintegration support for child victims should be established. The recovery of child victims should be viewed from a long-term perspective, requiring active national support.
Strict Punishment and Recidivism Prevention: In addition to strict punishment for perpetrators, systematic management and rehabilitation programs to prevent recidivism must be put in place. The effectiveness of sex offender registration and management systems should be improved, and, if necessary, measures such as electronic anklet monitoring should be strengthened to prevent re-offending.
Child sex crime is not an individual problem but a societal one. Our collective attention and effort are desperately needed to not turn a blind eye to the suffering of child victims and to create a society where they can grow up safely.
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