By Kim Bo-eun
More than half of those committing sex offences against minors last year were acquaintances of the victims, a report stated Wednesday.
According to the report compiled by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 51.7 percent of offenders who committed sex crimes against children and teenagers in 2011 were people the victims knew, including family members.
The figure was up from 46.8 percent in 2010.
The report also showed that half of the sex crimes occurred in the residential areas of the offenders.
The report was based on an examination of 1,682 sex offenders whose personal information was disclosed as part of punitive measures in 2011.
Among the offenses, 49.6 percent occurred in the area the offender lived, and sexual harassment accounted for 56.1 percent, the largest portion of the crimes. It was followed by rape (39.6 percent) and forced prostitution (3.4 percent).
In an attempt to curb sex crimes committed against minors, following a series of incidents that horrified the nation this year, the ministry has pushed tougher punishments.
The ministry’s law on protecting children and teenagers from sex crimes was passed at the National Assembly last month. A new updated system on making offenders' information public will be enacted starting June, 2013.
It has increased the items to be disclosed as well as the institutions that will post such information on bulletin boards.
The measure has the offenders submit a photo taken at a police station once every year. It also requires a check on the personal information every six months to verify it.