Mugshots of Heinous Criminals Involved in 'Murder and Sexual Violence' to Be Released from the 25th

Resolution on the Draft Enforcement Decree of Related Laws at the State Council
Possible Regardless of Consent from Subjects

The faces of heinous criminals who have committed serious crimes such as murder or sexual violence will be disclosed. Regardless of the consent of the subject, investigative agencies are now allowed to take and release 'mugshots.'

On October 6th last year, the National Assembly plenary session passed the Act on the Disclosure of Personal Information of Suspects in Certain Serious Crimes.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th, the Ministry of Justice announced that the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Disclosure of Personal Information of Serious Criminal Offenders was approved at the Cabinet meeting. The enforcement decree, a subordinate regulation of the Act on the Disclosure of Personal Information of Serious Criminal Offenders that expands the disclosure of personal information for certain serious criminals, will take effect on the 25th.

Previously, the disclosure of personal information was limited to suspects of specific violent crimes and sexual offenses, and taking or releasing mugshots without the suspect's consent was difficult. However, with the enforcement of the Act on the Disclosure of Personal Information of Serious Criminal Offenders, prosecutors and judicial police officers can disclose the face, name, and age of suspects in certain serious crime cases such as murder and sexual violence, provided that certain conditions such as the brutality of the crime are met.

Even if the case is changed to a specific serious crime during the trial process, prosecutors can request the court to disclose the defendant's personal information. Unless there are special circumstances, the face will be disclosed as a recent image within '30 days.'

Color photographs of the suspect’s front, left, and right faces will be taken, stored electronically, and preserved. Before the disclosure decision, the suspect will be given an opportunity to state their opinion and notified of the date of the Personal Information Disclosure Review Committee meeting. If the suspect does not immediately consent to the disclosure, a minimum grace period of five days will be given after the disclosure decision. Even if the case is transferred during the grace period, the police will proceed with the disclosure for cases they have decided to disclose.

The Ministry of Justice stated, "With the establishment of the personal information disclosure system for serious criminals, it is expected to prevent similar crimes and guarantee the public’s right to know."

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