Controversy Over Compensation for 'Mutjima Crimes' Victims... Will It Be Discussed in the National Assembly This Time?

Criticism Arises Over Low Support Fund Cap
Additional Support Possible Through Special Resolution
Victim Protection Enhancement Bill Pending
Active Ordinance and Budget Formation by Local Governments

Amid growing fear of so-called ‘random crimes’ targeting unspecified individuals, calls are increasing for stronger economic support for victims. It is pointed out that the ceiling on relief funds and support payments provided by the government is too low to ensure adequate protection for victims.

Near Seohyeon Station in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, a random stabbing incident occurred, and fire ambulances are heading to the scene.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prosecutors: Relief Funds and Support Payments "Provided to the Maximum"

According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 16th, support for victims is divided into ‘relief funds’ under the Crime Victim Protection Act and ‘support payments’ under the economic support guidelines for crime victims. Relief funds are further categorized into survivor relief funds, disability relief funds, and serious injury relief funds. Among these, survivor relief funds are calculated by multiplying the victim’s monthly salary, monthly lost income, or average wage at the time of death by a number of months ranging from 24 to 48. If the victim was the sole breadwinner of the family, the spouse and children are entitled to 40 months, while direct ascendants and grandchildren are entitled to 32 months.

Support payments include medical expenses, psychological treatment costs, and living expenses. Medical expenses are paid up to 15 million KRW per year, with a total limit of 50 million KRW, for physical injuries requiring treatment of five weeks or more. Additionally, the Crime Victim Economic Support Deliberation Committee may provide additional support through special resolutions, considering the severity of the crime victimization and economic circumstances. Psychiatric treatment costs are reimbursed on an actual expense basis, psychological counseling is supported up to 100,000 KRW per session and capped at 500,000 KRW per month for up to three months. Living expenses are paid up to 500,000 KRW per month for a maximum of three months, with increases depending on the number of dependents.

Previously, Lee Gi-in, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly from the People Power Party, sparked controversy by claiming that the hospitalization cost for a victim in a brain-dead state after a stabbing rampage in Bundang reached 13 million KRW over six days, while the Crime Victim Protection Center’s support fund was about 15 million KRW and overlapping support was not possible. In response, a prosecution official stated, “It is not true that overlapping support is not allowed; continuous support can be provided through special resolutions,” and added, “We are actively supporting victims of violent crimes.”

National Assembly Stalled, Local Governments Active

The ruling and opposition parties proposed bills in 2021 to strengthen protection for crime victims, but after two years, the bills remain pending in the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The bill introduced by Hong Seok-jun of the People Power Party focuses on raising the ceiling for relief funds: survivor relief funds from 24 to 120 months, and disability and serious injury relief funds from 24 to 60 months. Regarding this bill, Park Cheol-ho, a specialist at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, noted that while it is positive in terms of strengthening support for crime victims and their families, comprehensive consideration of additional fiscal requirements is necessary. The Ministry of Justice predicted that, since relief fund amounts vary depending on the victim’s income, degree of injury, and number of dependents, precise budget estimates are difficult, but according to the amendment, the maximum survivor relief fund would increase from 148.99 million KRW to 372.49 million KRW, and the maximum disability and serious injury relief funds would rise from 124.16 million KRW to 186.24 million KRW.

Park Dae-chul of the People Power Party submitted a bill allowing payment of disability and serious injury relief funds exceeding the current legal limits only for victims with severe disabilities or serious injuries requiring lifelong treatment. Kang Sun-woo of the Democratic Party proposed a bill to provide special provisions for monetary support to child victims who suffer serious injuries until they reach 18 years of age.

Local governments where random crimes have occurred are actively discussing ordinances and budget preparations to protect crime victims. The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is promoting the ‘Ordinance on Prevention of Random Crimes and Victim Support,’ which is scheduled to be submitted at the 371st extraordinary session starting next month on the 5th. The Gwanak District Council enacted an ordinance on crime victim support in July 2017 and allocated a budget for victim support funds. Professor Lim Joon-tae of Dongguk University’s Department of Police Administration stated, “It is not easy to claim damages against the state for random crimes,” and suggested, “Since the victim support system has limited budget, it needs to be strengthened in substance.”

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