Forced Isolation Solely Over Crime Concerns: 'Unanswered Questions' Focuses on the Delinquency-Prone Youth Dilemma

The reality of "delinquency-prone youths," who stand trial and are forcibly isolated in detention facilities not because they committed crimes, but simply due to the "concern" that they might commit them, is set to be revealed.

Airing this coming Saturday, October 31, SBS's "Unanswered Questions" under the subtitle "The Delinquency-Prone Youth Dilemma - Why Did the Boy Become a Sinner?", highlights the legal and social dilemmas surrounding delinquency-prone youths and the tears of children hidden behind them.

On this episode, the story of Ha-eun (pseudonym) will be shared. At age 13, she ran away from home to escape her father's violence, only to be caught by unidentified men and sent to a juvenile classification review board. Because of her prolonged runaway status and the concern that she might commit a crime, Ha-eun received a protective disposition from the juvenile court and had to endure six months of confinement in a protective facility where even stepping outside was impossible.

In fact, under current legal provisions, even children who have not committed crimes can be brought before a court if guardians or facility heads go through a "notification" procedure citing delinquent behavior or running away. Many parents use this notification as a last resort to protect their children from larger crimes, but the children express extreme feelings of betrayal and unfairness, leading to severed communication and further conflicts.

Adding to the shock, some of the children who stepped in front of the production crew's cameras were even classified as delinquency-prone youths and sent to detention and isolation facilities despite being victims of sexual crimes.

Raising the question of whether the "delinquency-prone youth" system is an inevitable measure for crime prevention or another human rights violation that brands children as prospective criminals, "Unanswered Questions" will air at 11:10 PM on Saturday, October 31.

Reporter Kang Sun-ae

(Photo: SBS E! News, Reporter Kang Sun-ae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.