The Supreme Court’s Sentencing Commission holds its plenary meeting in Seoul on July 4, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 6 (Korea Bizwire) – Sexual crime offenders will face additional punishment if they commit secondary victimization regardless of whether attempt to settle with victims.
The Supreme Court’s Sentencing Commission said Tuesday it had amended sentencing guidelines for sexual crimes.
The commission cleared the way to additionally punish sexual crime offenders if they cause secondary victimization to the victims.
For sex offenders, whether or not they provoke secondary victimization will be considered as a weighing factor for sentencing or a mitigating factor for probation.
Even in the past, provocation of secondary victimization during attempts to settle with victims was considered to be one of the factors affecting sentencing decisions.
However, the amendment broadens the scope of secondary damages by removing the relevance of any settlement and clarifies that the provocation of secondary victimization is subject to additional punishment.
The type of secondary victimization includes the disclosure of personal information about victims, the intimidation and harassment of victims, and disadvantageous measures against those who report sexual harassment or assault.
The commission plans to apply the amendment starting from Oct. 1.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
