One-Stop Support System for Crime Victims

Published 24 Nov.2025 15:00(KST)

Targeting Launch in February 2027
One-Click, Non-Face-to-Face Support for Crime Victims

"There is still a significant burden when it comes to exposure of personal information. Even to receive a single form of support for relief from various damages, I had to visit multiple institutions and submit the same documents several times. Each time, I had to repeatedly recount the incident I would rather not remember, which left me physically and emotionally exhausted." (A victim of sexual violence)

This year (2025), for the first time, 'Crime Victims' Human Rights Week' is being observed from November 24 to 30. November 29, 1985, marks the day the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. To raise social awareness of crime victims and promote their welfare, the week that includes November 29 has been designated as this observance period every year.

Until now, the criminal justice process has focused on safeguarding the rights of suspects and defendants. Although crime victims are key parties in criminal cases, there have been few opportunities for their opinions to be reflected or for them to achieve substantial recovery, leaving them relatively marginalized. Support systems for crime victims have also been scattered across different institutions, requiring victims to individually check which agency offers what kind of support. Even when seeking help from these systems, the process has been predominantly offline, forcing victims to visit each institution in person and making it difficult to focus on actual recovery.

In response, the Ministry of Justice has decided to establish an 'Integrated Support System for Crime Victims' with the goal of launching it in February 2027. This system aims to actively protect crime victims and support their recovery throughout the entire process, from investigation to trial and post-case management. The government will consolidate the various support systems that were previously dispersed across different ministries. Crime victims will be able to apply for and access a wide range of recovery programs with a single online click, regardless of time or location. By having multiple agencies manage support services with a victim-centered approach, it is expected that continuous assistance can be provided until the victim fully returns to daily life.

The need for integrated support is evident from the performance of the 'Crime Victims One-Stop Solution Center.' According to the Ministry of Justice, since its opening in July 2024 and up to October 2025-a period of one year and three months-a total of 5,336 crime victims received counseling and were connected to relevant agencies. The center has served as a key hub for these services.

According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Justice, over the past five years (from 2020 to September 2025), there have been a total of 1,588,484 cases of crime victim protection and support. On average, more than 276,000 cases of economic, legal, and psychological support have been provided each year.

However, compensation payments to crime victims have been on a decline. Compensation for bereaved families was paid out in 145 cases in 2020, but this number dropped to 113 in 2024. The total amount paid to bereaved families also decreased in line with the drop in cases, falling by about 15.8% from approximately 8.2 billion won (2020) to 6.9 billion won (2024).

This is interpreted as being due to the diversification of support systems, such as the recent expansion of emergency welfare support-including living expenses and medical expenses-by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which has led to a reduction in the scale of economic compensation.