[2020 National Audit] Over 700,000 Complaints Filed... Prosecutions Below 20%

1068 Defendants per 100,000 People... 146.6 Times Higher than Japan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Although the number of criminal complaints recently has approached over 700,000 cases, it has been found that less than 20% of them are actually prosecutable.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to the office of Seo Young-kyo, chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of criminal complaint cases received was ▲668,360 in 2017 ▲714,111 in 2018 ▲772,040 in 2019, showing an increase each year. However, during the same period, prosecutions were recorded as ▲135,601 (20.3%) in 2017 ▲135,340 (19.0%) in 2018 ▲140,519 (18.2%) in 2019. In South Korea, 1,068 people per 100,000 population are accused, whereas in Japan, which has a similar criminal law system, only 7.3 people per 100,000 population are accused, showing a difference of 146.6 times.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Seo’s office, the prosecution rate for all cases excluding criminal complaints and accusations has averaged 40.8% over the past five years, while the prosecution rate for criminal complaints and accusations is less than half of that. If criminal complaints and accusations are abused in this way, under the current legal system where suspects must be sent to prosecutors after being booked, indiscriminate production of suspects could occur.

Seo stated, “Although criminal complaints and accusations increase every year, the proportion of prosecutable content is gradually decreasing, which requires serious consideration.” She pointed out, “If criminal complaints and accusations are abused, innocent people may suffer not only social and economic damages but also psychological harm.” She added, “It is necessary to deeply discuss a system that can sincerely accept or politely reject complaints and accusations that are inappropriate to initiate investigations, while protecting the rights and duties of the people.”

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