The Most Urgent Policy to Prevent Sexual Violence: 'Strengthening Perpetrator Punishment' Ranked First

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Announces 2019 Sexual Violence Safety Survey Results
Priority on Swift Investigation, Perpetrator Arrest, and Creating Safe Environment
Over Half Cite "Weak Punishment" as Reason for Increase in Sexual Violence

Mental Distress After Sexual Violence Three Times Higher in Women Than Men
"Telling Won't Help You" Secondary Victimization Occurs
60.6% of Illegal Filming Victims Suffer 'Mental Harm'

General audience members supporting the Me Too movement in the cultural and arts sector held a "With You (#With you)" rally on the 25th at Marronnier Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. During the rally, they called for support and solidarity with the Me Too movement, punishment of perpetrators, protection of victims, and measures to prevent recurrence. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The most urgent policy demand for preventing sexual violence was found to be the strengthening of punishment for perpetrators.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 21st the results of the '2019 Sexual Violence Safety Survey' conducted last year on 10,000 men and women aged 19 to 64.

According to the results, the top priority policy for preventing sexual violence was strengthening punishment for perpetrators. This was followed by prompt investigation and apprehension of perpetrators as the second priority, creating a safe environment, strengthening prevention of recidivism through correctional treatment of perpetrators, and expanding the scope of punishable offenses beyond illegal filming and distribution.

Among respondents who answered that the risk of sexual violence had 'decreased' compared to a year ago, the reasons cited were 'heightened social awareness and changes in sexual consciousness due to movements like Me Too (41.1%)' and 'strengthened punishment for sexual violence crimes (32.5%)'. On the other hand, more than half of those who answered that the risk of sexual violence had increased responded that it was 'because punishment for sexual violence crimes is weak (56.5%)'.

Provided by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

The rate of experiencing mental distress among women who had experienced sexual violence even once in their lifetime was more than three times higher than that of men. Based on female respondents, the relationship between experiencing sexual violence and mental distress was examined, showing mental distress rates in the order of rape 86.8%, attempted rape 71.5%, illegal filming 60.6%, sexual assault accompanied by assault and threats 58.1%, and sexual harassment 47.0%. After experiencing sexual violence, women showed changes in daily life compared to men. It was also found that women experienced secondary victimization, such as hearing from people around them that 'telling others about the victimization won't help you.' The lifetime rate of experiencing sexual violence involving physical contact was 9.6%.

The age at first experience of sexual violence was highest between 19 and under 35 years old for all types except genital exposure. Sexual harassment, sexual assault (with assault or threats), and rape were mostly committed by acquaintances (excluding relatives), while illegal filming and distribution were mostly committed by strangers. Genital exposure had the highest first victimization age under 19 years old.

In cases of illegal filming, 74.9% of perpetrators were complete strangers, and the most common form of illegal filming distribution was without consent, followed by threats related to distribution. The distribution channels were instant messaging apps like KakaoTalk (55.2%), social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter and Instagram (38.5%), and blogs (33.1%) in that order.

Among female respondents who suffered illegal filming, 60.6% reported experiencing mental distress, which is higher than the 58.1% mental distress rate among victims of sexual assault accompanied by assault and threats.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok said, "With a solemn sense of responsibility to eradicate sexual violence, we will do our best to create a society safe from sexual violence by improving related laws and systems together with relevant ministries and strengthening support systems from the victim's perspective."

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