Push to Release Criminal 'Mugshots'... 'Random Violence' Also Included in Personal Information Disclosure (Comprehensive)

"Serious Recognition of the Severity of the 'Busan Dolryeochagi Incident' and Others"

The People Power Party and the government have decided to promote the disclosure of 'mug shots' (mug shot: a photograph recording the appearance and attire of a criminal) showing the current appearance of criminals to enhance the effectiveness of the criminal identity disclosure system. They will include criminals involved in serious crimes such as terrorism, child sexual offenses, and 'random violence' in the scope of identity disclosure, and will push for the disclosure of personal information not only for suspects but also for defendants.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the high-level party-government meeting held on the afternoon of the 18th at the Prime Minister's official residence in Jongno-gu, Seoul, attended by Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister, and other party and government officials.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 18th, the ruling party and the government held a high-level party-government meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, attended by People Power Party leader Kim Gi-hyeon, floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, and Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi, to discuss the 'Expansion Plan for Disclosure of Personal Information of Serious Criminals.' The ruling party and government announced that they would swiftly promote the enactment of a special law to expand the disclosure of personal information of serious criminals through member-initiated legislation.

Yoo Sang-beom, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, explained the background for promoting the special law, saying, "The party and government are seriously aware of the severity of heinous crimes such as the recent 'Busan roundhouse kick incident' and 'peer murder case.'" Yoo added, "Currently, personal information of criminals is disclosed only for crimes stipulated in the Act on the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes, and the special law aims to expand the scope. Also, recently, we were unable to disclose photos of criminals, but we will add provisions to allow the disclosure of so-called 'mug shots.'"

The ruling party and government decided to include criminals involved in serious crimes such as rebellion, foreign exchange offenses, terrorism, organized crime, and drugs, as well as child sexual offenses with high social condemnation and 'random violence' where unspecified victims such as women are easily targeted, in the scope of personal information disclosure. The scope of disclosure, currently limited to 'suspects,' will be expanded to include 'defendants after indictment.' To ensure the effectiveness of identity disclosure, criminals whose personal information disclosure is decided will have their current appearance disclosed within 30 days of the decision, and a legal basis will be established to allow investigative agencies to photograph the current face of the criminal.

Regarding concerns about human rights violations, senior spokesperson Yoo emphasized, "The disclosure of personal information is made by court decision upon the prosecutor's request, and internally, it is decided through committee deliberation. There are sufficient measures to prevent human rights violations." He said, "As public anxiety about heinous and retaliatory crimes is increasing, the party requested the promotion of victim protection and strengthened punishment measures for retaliatory and heinous crimes separately from legal and institutional improvements, and the government agreed to actively consider this."

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