▲ Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyung reports the results of public debate on the age criteria for criminal minors (juvenile delinquents) during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House on the 14th.
The government is expected to conduct additional public opinion gathering through a survey regarding lowering the age threshold for criminal minors, also known as juvenile delinquents.
During a regular briefing at the Seoul Government Complex on the 13th, an official from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family stated that the Ministry of Justice is establishing a plan to gather additional opinions on lowering the age criteria for juvenile delinquents, adding, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which has experience participating in public debates, has provided practical information to the Ministry of Justice."
The official added, "I understand that a public opinion poll format is being considered for the additional opinion gathering."
Previously, a public debate conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed that opinions favoring conditionally lowering the age criteria for juvenile delinquents were dominant.
According to a survey of 212 members of the public citizen panel who participated in the deliberation process, opinions supporting a conditional reduction rose by 0.9 percentage points from 45.8% before the deliberation to 46.7% after.
Based on these findings, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family proposed lowering the age threshold from "under 14 and 10 or older" to "under 13 and 10 or older" specifically for violent, severe, and repeated crimes.
However, after receiving this report during a Cabinet meeting on the 14th of last month, President Lee Jae-myung said, "It seems we do need to lower [the age criteria for juvenile delinquents]," while calling for further discussion on whether to lower the age threshold uniformly or conditionally, and by how much.
President Lee then instructed additional public opinion gathering, saying, "Let us gather public opinion once more in the meantime. Through various methods, such as conducting a public opinion poll."
Aside from adjusting the age criteria, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is also pursuing measures to prevent juvenile delinquency and improve protective dispositions.
The ministry official stated, "We are seeking to secure two additional youth recovery support facilities and one youth independent living center to protect juvenile delinquents and prevent recidivism," adding, "Since these are not exactly preferred facilities, demand from local governments is not very high."
The official also noted, "We are pursuing inter-ministerial meetings with the National Court Administration to practicalize the operation of juvenile protection facilities," and added, "We are also in consultations with the National Assembly, as there are many tasks that require revisions to the Juvenile Act."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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