By Michael Stevens

The recent article entitled ``Sex With Minor Not Crime If Not Forced" by staff reporter Kim Rahn has shone a spotlight on a serious flaw in the Korean legal system that must be corrected as soon as possible.

Though the recent crime reported in The Korea Times was in fact committed by a 46-year-old Korean man against a 16-year-old Korean girl, the question must be asked: Could such a law that permits sex with a child as young as 13-years-old ― as long as it is consensual ― still exist in a modern society such as Korea? In addition a law such as this could in fact encourage pedophiles outside of Korea to come here to prey on its children.

The man, identified only as Kim, at his age, forces the girl just by suggesting sex. Though he may not have physically forced her, she may not have felt that she had the right or the ability of refusal since she had nowhere to live ― other than the streets. He exploited that fear.

Pedophiles such as this Kim learn to manipulate the innocent and often use their charm on troubled children by first becoming their friend and building the child's self-esteem. Often, they will refer to the child as being special or mature, appealing to their need to be heard and understood. They also manipulate the children ― using either guilt or fear, and sometimes even love to confuse them.

Many pedophiles genuinely like kids. Yet, regrettably, somewhere along the way their thinking regarding love, sex and kids became completely muddled.

In their psychologically unbalanced minds they equate love with sex even if the object of their affection is a child. They do not view their behavior as being wrong. They believe that they have the right to have sex with a child ― if there is ``mutual consent."

It seems that the Korean legal system is confusing the sexual deviancy of pedophiles with those of child molesters ― who will normally target and physically rape a child on impulse. Pedophiles often will take months or even a year or two ``grooming" the child and preparing him or her in order to seduce them. They do this by making the child believe they truly care for their well being and love them.

In fact, it is possible that this young teenage girl actually believes that Kim loves her and that she loves him. Often these type of men will ``court" the child with attention, affection and gifts, just as one adult would court another during the dating process.

During a recent debate I had on this subject an ESL teacher noted: "Do not apply your cultural norms to Korea. Different cultures have different definitions of statutory (rape), minor, sex and so on. Just because the West are prudes does it mean the rest of the world has to follow suit."

Are we really being narrow-minded to think that it is just simply wrong for an adult man to have sex with a child?

This brings about another question: Is it really a cultural norm for Korean men to have sex with young children? I really don't think so. And for this teacher to imply that it is is an insult to all Korean men and women alike.

It truly makes me wonder just what type of teacher would say such a thing ― isn't it up to all of us to insure the safety of our children ― no matter if they are ours or not?

It seems crazy for Korea to continue to focus its attention on the foreign teaching community while ignoring the biggest threat to Korean children, and that is Korean men. Laws must be designed to protect children, not just from foreign teachers, but from all who seek to abuse their authority over them.

The writer is a student of Biblical studies. He can be reached at eslcity@gmail.com.