By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Police could collect the DNA samples of convicted felons from as early as next year.
The Ministry of Justice said Wednesday that it will push through a bill on the collection and management of the genetic information of convicted criminals and suspects in 11 crime categories.
It will soon send the bill to the National Assembly for approval. Among the crime categories subject to the monitoring of DNA are murder, robbery, rape, arson, drug use and sexual crimes against minors.
If passed this year, the law will go into force early next year, the ministry said, betting on swift and efficient countermeasures against such crimes.
``Those convicted of such felonious crimes tend to commit similar crimes again. Also, cautious and experienced criminals do not leave behind fingerprints or footprints,'' the ministry said. ``Given that criminals' hairs, a modicum of saliva and blood are often found at crime scenes despite their carefulness, a DNA database will provide crucial comparative information.''
Human rights groups, however, have spoken out against the policy, criticizing it for its potential to violate basic human rights.
A rise in the number of felonies in recent years has motivated the government to introduce the policy. The number of homicides increased by 11 percent between 2003 and 2008, with sexual crimes jumping 51 percent.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and many other developed countries have adopted a gene-based data network.
Any recorded information would be removed from the system if an individual were declared innocent or acquitted.