Juvenile crimes have been on the rise over the last few years while the average age of teenage criminals has been decreasing.
Crimes committed by minors from 12- to 19-years-old jumped from 25,946 in 2006 to 41,754 last year, according to Rep. Joo Kwang-deok of the governing Grand National Party.
According to research, the main reason crimes were committed was to make money to spend on entertainment. Crimes committed by accident and out of curiosity followed.
By charges, larceny was the highest with 10,920 cases while violence and committing traffic violations as members of motorcycle gangs followed. The number of juveniles committing felonies, such as robbery and assault, also went up from last year.
In 2001, 20 percent of juvenile offenders were 17-year-olds followed by 16- and 18-year-olds. Last year, 23 percent were 16 and 18 percent were 15.
Joo said each judge of the Busan Family Court handled 4,913 juvenile cases last year. ``It is impossible for (the judges) to be in charge of every case and we need to establish a court for juvenile offences or assign more judges,'' he said.