All sex crime cases involving children and adolescents will now be reviewed by the prosecution office regardless of whether police find the allegations substantiated.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said on the 17th that a revised Youth Sex Protection Act containing the measure passed a plenary session of the National Assembly.
The core of the revision is a requirement that judicial police officers refer every sex crime case involving children and adolescents they investigate to the prosecution office. The measure reflects concerns that the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority could leave gaps in legal protection for victims of sex crimes against children and adolescents.
Since the revised Criminal Procedure Act took effect in 2021, judicial police officers have been able to close cases they judged to lack substantiated allegations without referring them to prosecutors. Critics have argued, however, that the age of victims and the nature of these cases make it difficult to establish what actually happened in the early stages of an investigation into sex crimes against children and adolescents. There were also concerns that if a case were closed through a decision not to refer it, the protection and support measures victims need might not be provided in time.
The ministry said it plans to work closely with related agencies so the revision takes effect without disruption and to monitor for any gaps in protection and support for victims of sex crimes against children and adolescents.
"Even under the new criminal justice system, we will continue to work with related agencies so that citizens vulnerable to crime are sufficiently protected and can receive prompt support when harm occurs," Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyung said.
