More sex offenders face chemical castration

By Na Jeong-ju

All sex offenders will be subject to the possibility of chemical castration regardless of the age of their victims beginning March next year, the Ministry of Justice said Wednesday.

The measure is included in a set of anti-crime ordinances that have been promulgated by Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin.

Under the current law, chemical castration is used for sex offenders only when their victims are under the age of 16. The National Assembly approved a revision bill that calls for the wider use of hormonal treatment and other measures to fight soaring sexual assault cases.

“Many offenders were previously exempted from chemical castration because their victims were older than 16. We’ve removed this legal loophole,” a ministry spokesman said.

The move reflects public calls for tougher punishment against sex offenders in the wake of a string of violent crimes against minors and women in recent months.

Those convicted of such crimes will be forced to wear an electronic anklet after their prison terms end, if they are deemed likely to reoffend. They will be required to register with police officers every four months for an examination of their mental state.

The use of the electronic anklets will also be expanded.

Currently, only sex offenders are forced to wear such devices, but, beginning March, they will also be used for convicted burglars who have reoffended and those convicted of attempted murder.

Regarding concerns that such measures could violate the criminals’ human rights, the ministry said the measures will be implemented on a limited basis.

“Convicted felons will be subject to chemical castration only if experts conclude they have difficulty suppressing their libidos and are likely to reoffend,” the official said. “That’s to effectively tackle sex crimes.”

Some critics say chemical castration costs a lot because the offender has to be given injections up to twice a month. According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, it costs 3.5 million won per person annually for the medication.

The wider use of chemical castration and electronic anklets are the latest in a series of measures the government has taken to rein in sex offences.

In August, the government scrapped the statute of limitations for sexual assaults on minors aged under 13 or the disabled. The ministry also plans to strengthen probation on sex convicts and build more forensic psychiatric institutes.