Supreme Court Sentencing Commission to Discuss New Sentencing Guidelines for 'Digital Sex Crimes' on the 18th... 'Draft to be Released'

Kim Young-ran, Chairperson of the Sentencing Commission, is speaking at the plenary meeting held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 20th. The Supreme Court Sentencing Commission is discussing sentencing guidelines for crimes involving obscene materials using children and adolescents. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A draft of new sentencing guidelines for 'digital sex crimes,' aimed at preventing crimes like the socially outraged 'Nth Room case' and severely punishing offenders, is expected to be released on the 18th.

The Supreme Court Sentencing Commission will hold a meeting at 4 p.m. that day to decide on new sentencing guidelines for digital sex crimes. During this meeting, a draft of the sentencing guidelines will be created, and afterward, the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission will gather opinions from various sectors to revise the details and finalize the guidelines.

Considering the heightened public concern and awareness regarding sexual exploitation video crimes following the Nth Room case, the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission is expected to significantly raise the recommended sentencing levels compared to previously imposed sentences at this meeting.

The Sentencing Commission has reportedly been reviewing related opinions recently received from its expert members and organizations such as the Seoul Bar Association.

Last month, the expert members submitted a recommendation to the Sentencing Commission suggesting that for crimes under the Youth Protection Act involving the production of obscene materials of children and adolescents (Article 11, Paragraph 1), the basic sentencing range should be 4 to 8 years imprisonment, with an upper limit of aggravated punishment set at a maximum of 13 years imprisonment.

The Seoul Bar Association defined "digital sex crimes as serious crimes" and submitted an opinion letter to the Sentencing Commission stating that "the sentencing guidelines should reflect the actual restoration of harm to victims, including efforts made by perpetrators to delete the sexually exploitative videos they distributed," and that "actions by perpetrators that facilitate distribution must be considered as aggravating factors in sentencing guidelines due to the irreparability and continuity of digital sex crimes."

The draft sentencing guidelines to be approved this time will incorporate opinions from legal institutions and will be finalized after hearing various opinions at a public hearing scheduled for the 22nd of next month.

Meanwhile, attention is also focused on Kim Young-ran (64, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 11), the chairperson of the Sentencing Commission who will preside over this meeting. This is because Kim was recently considered a candidate for the first head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HCIO).

According to the legal community on the 17th, the HCIO establishment preparation team and advisory committee are seriously considering a female legal professional outside the prosecution as the first HCIO head, with Kim Young-ran and former Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Lee Jung-mi (58, Class 16) among the candidates.

Chairperson Kim left a significant legacy by promoting the so-called 'Kim Young-ran Law,' officially known as the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft.

However, it is reported that Kim has hinted at the possibility of declining the HCIO head position due to the HCIO Act provision setting the retirement age at 65 and her belief that she may not be the appropriate person for the role.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.