What if your beloved child was assaulted by peers?

On the 20th, JTBC's "Incident Chief" reported the story of a father, Mr. A, whose elementary school daughter was allegedly assaulted by a group of students in their first or second year of middle school. According to the report, on the 8th, the perpetrators called Mr. A's daughter and her friend to a nearby elementary school, claiming the two had gossiped about them on social networking services (SNS).

The perpetrators took Mr. A's daughter's phone, slapped her face multiple times, pulled her hair, and kicked her to the ground. After the assault, they threatened, "If you don't fight each other, we'll beat you up," and forced Mr. A's daughter and her friend to fight.

JTBC 'Case Chief' Broadcast Screen

원본보기 아이콘

They even coerced violence by shouting, "Hit her face!" "Gouge her eyes!" "Get on top and beat her up!" When Mr. A's daughter pleaded, "Can we stop now?" they refused and continued to force the fight. On the way home, the group suddenly apologized to the daughter but then threatened, "If you report this, we'll kill you and your parents with bricks."

Mr. A learned about the assault after questioning his seriously injured daughter and reported the group to the police. He told the perpetrators, "I'll give you one last chance, so come with your parents," but no one responded. Notably, one perpetrator, who is a "Chokbeopsonyeon" (juvenile under the age of criminal responsibility), said, "So what? Do whatever you want. Just pay money if you have to."

Since the incident, Mr. A's daughter has been receiving psychiatric treatment instead of attending school. Mr. A said, "They seem confident because they know they won't be punished as Chokbeopsonyeon. I am determined to make sure they are punished. Not a single parent of the perpetrators has apologized. The students show no sign of remorse," he appealed.

Meanwhile, "Chokbeopsonyeon" refers to juveniles between the ages of 10 and 14 who commit crimes. Under the Juvenile Act, they are not criminally liable, so instead of criminal punishment, they receive protective measures such as institutional custody, community service, probation, or placement in a juvenile detention center. The number of Chokbeopsonyeon is increasing every year. In the past five years, the figure has nearly doubled. According to the National Police Agency, from 2019 to 2023, a total of 65,987 minors committed crimes.

By year, there were 8,615 in 2019, 9,606 in 2020, 11,677 in 2021, 16,435 in 2022, and 19,654 in 2023, showing a steady increase. As of September this year, 15,343 Chokbeopsonyeon have been apprehended. Considering that an average of 1,700 Chokbeopsonyeon are caught each month this year, the total is expected to far exceed 20,000 by year-end.

Looking at the types of crimes committed by Chokbeopsonyeon this year: theft was the most common with 7,683 cases, followed by violence (3,607), other crimes (3,355), rape and molestation (647), arson (41), and robbery (10). There were zero cases of murder.

In fact, on the 9th, three elementary school students from a swimming team in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, together with two middle and high school students, committed a group sexual assault against a first-grade elementary school student. On the 25th of last month, three upper-grade elementary students in Incheon were apprehended by police for forcing a first-grade student to watch obscene material in an apartment complex. However, these students are classified as Chokbeopsonyeon and are not subject to criminal punishment.

Hanja (left), Jongbae Lee, member of the People Power Party

원본보기 아이콘

Currently, a bill to lower the age threshold is being discussed in the National Assembly. Han Jia of the People Power Party and Lee Jongbae of the People Power Party have each proposed bills to lower the upper age limit for Chokbeopsonyeon to under 13 and under 12, respectively. However, experts point out that a pan-governmental and long-term response is necessary.

Woonghyuk Lee, a professor in the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University, pointed out, "This is not simply a matter of being 13 or 14 years old. In the case of adolescents, it is common for victims to become perpetrators and for secondary damage to follow, so once a problem occurs, it grows like a snowball." He continued, "Not only the police but also the prosecution, education offices, and local governments need to consult and implement a long-term, government-wide response."

Daekyung Kwak, a professor at Dongguk University's College of Police and Judicial Studies, said, "As social awareness of juvenile offenders has increased compared to the past, there is a widespread atmosphere of handling these crimes according to legal procedures rather than showing leniency." He advised, "Before strengthening punishment standards, the current protective measures and guidance environment must be improved."