[EDITORIAL] Crimes on children

National Assembly inspection of the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday turned into a session of condemnation of sexual crimes against children, with infuriated representatives deploring society's weaknesses in protecting the many potential victims from heinous predators. A recent KBS report on the relatively light sentencing of a rapist who left permanent physical damage to an 8-year-old girl touched off the furor.

At least two members of the House Health-Welfare-Families Committee suggested "chemical castration" of convicts in child rape cases. Others stressed the need to make public not only the names but the photos of convicted sexual molesters of children and raise the minimum punishment for such criminals.

President Lee Myung-bak joined in the widespread social debate. He told a meeting with senior secretaries that sexual abusers of children should be "separated from society as far as possible" because they have a tendency to repeat their crimes.

"Their neighbors should know what they did and if they move to a new place, their new neighbors should know," he said.

So, everybody is out to close the gate after the horse has bolted. Health-Welfare Minister Chun Jae-hee told the inspecting lawmakers that she would call a meeting with officials from the ministry of education and gender equality and the National Police Agency "to discuss countermeasures." However, few practical measures can be expected of any such conferences and the young victim will have to live the rest of her life unable to bear a child.

If lawmakers believe the present Criminal Code is flawed in providing adequate punishment for the crimes against children, they should start work on an amendment. If they believe that castration is necessary, they should begin serious study on it at the risk of constitutional violation, instead of asking the opinion of the minister of health and welfare.

The Justice Ministry is doing a better job as it sent a recommendation to the Supreme Court asking for harsher standards of punishment for sexual crimes on minors that result in injuries.

2009.10.07

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National Assembly inspection : 국회 의원 검사

condemnation : 비난, 규탄 유죄 판결
infuriate : 격노하게 하다;격분시키다
deplore :개탄하다, 비난,비판하다
heinous predators : 극악 무도한 포식자
light sentencing : 가벼운 형벌
rapist : 강간범
chemical castration : 화학적 거세
molesters : 성추행
debate : 토론
abusers : 학대자
tendency : 성향, 버릇
Criminal Code : 형사법
amendment : 개정,수정
constitutional violation : 헌법 위반
The Justice Ministry : 법무부
the Supreme Court : 대법원
harsher : 엄한
minors : 미성년의