Under 14 Offenders Reach 20,000 as Rape Cases Soar 58.5%
Rising Concerns: Increase in Juvenile Offenders Under Criminal Responsibility Recent data has revealed a significant rise in the number of juvenile offenders under the age of criminal responsibility, raising alarms among policymakers and experts. According to new statistics, the total number of such offenders has increased by nearly 30% over the past three years, surpassing 20,000. This trend highlights an urgent need for a reevaluation of current policies and support systems aimed at addressing youth crime. The figures were disclosed through data provided by the Korean National Police Agency to Rep. Choi Soo-jin, a member of the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the People Power Party. The data shows that the number of juvenile offenders aged 10 to under 14 has risen by 26.6% over two years, increasing from 16,435 in 2022 to 20,814 in the previous year. Juvenile offenders under the age of criminal responsibility are defined as those age...