South Korea’s Sentencing Commission has finalized new sentencing guidelines for previously uncovered crimes, including animal abuse and sexual offenses against protected persons. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Sentencing Commission has finalized new sentencing guidelines for previously uncovered crimes, including animal abuse and sexual offenses against protected persons, with a public hearing scheduled for next month.
The commission announced on January 14 that it had approved draft sentencing guidelines during its 136th meeting, covering sexual offenses, fraud, and violations of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act and Animal Protection Act.
For sexual offenses, the commission established new guidelines for previously unaddressed categories. Sexual harassment in crowded public places, such as public transportation or performance venues, now carries a recommended sentence of up to two years in prison.
For sexual offenses committed within workplace relationships or against minors by guardians or supervisors, the guidelines recommend up to two years for harassment and up to two years and six months for sexual assault.
The newly established guidelines for animal abuse recommend base sentences of four months to one year in prison or fines of 3 million to 12 million won for killing animals. Cases involving animal torture or injury carry recommended sentences of two to 10 months in prison or fines between 1 million and 10 million won.
Aggravating factors, such as crimes against multiple animals, repeated offenses, or particularly cruel methods, can increase sentences up to two years in prison or 20 million won in fines for killing animals, and up to one year and six months or 15 million won in fines for causing injury.
With additional special aggravating factors, sentences can reach the statutory maximum of three years imprisonment.
The Sentencing Commission also adjusted guidelines for fraud and electronic financial transaction violations, generally increasing recommended sentences.
A public hearing on the draft guidelines is scheduled for February 17 at the Supreme Court auditorium. After gathering feedback from the hearing and relevant agencies, the commission plans to finalize the new guidelines at its general meeting on March 24.
While these sentencing guidelines serve as a reference for judges and are not strictly binding, any deviation must be explained in written judgments, effectively preventing arbitrary departures from the recommendations without reasonable cause.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
