The decision to effectively retain the age threshold for 촉법소년 at 14 has provoked a wave of public backlash.
Recently, online communities have been flooded with posts calling for an adjustment to the age limit for 촉법소년.
Under the Criminal Act, 촉법소년 describes minors aged 10 to under 14 who are exempt from criminal liability; when they commit crimes they are subject to protective measures rather than criminal prosecution. In recent years, as some juvenile crimes have become more violent, calls to lower the age of criminal responsibility have grown. The government and relevant ministries reviewed proposals to reduce the age but ultimately decided to maintain the current standard.
Online commenters reacted negatively to the decision to keep the age at 14.
One user wrote, “Enforce punishment properly before worrying about stigma and repeat offenses. Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse? Concerns about rehabilitation and recidivism should come after appropriate punishment has been carried out.”
Other users posted critical comments such as, “Why? The election’s coming — they’re scared of losing parents’ votes,” “Teenage crime has become increasingly vicious. The president has spoken in favor of lowering the age, and the public wants it lowered — so why keep it?” “Lower it to 10 or put it to a referendum,” “They’re out of touch. Is 14 back then the same as 14 now?” “Who do they think they are to decide the public will on their own? Are they in their right mind?” “Make parents bear punishment on behalf of these juveniles,” and “This government just scolds people and gets nothing done.”
Because resolving the debate around the 촉법소년 system requires a social consensus between calls for tougher penalties and advocates of rehabilitation-focused approaches, controversy over future policy direction is likely to continue.
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