Korean Job Discussion Forums

bacasper · Joined: 26 Mar 2007

2MB should not sign this bill. Only a minority voted for it, and only one of the recent cases was committed by a repreat offender. Anyway, is it even ethical for a doctor to administer "medical treatment" as a punishment?

Korean child molesters face chemical castration

# The Times
# July 01, 2010 12:00AM

SOUTH Korea is poised to become the first Asian country to use chemical castration on child-sex offenders.

Such is the level of disgust at a series of rapes that a bill prescribing the hormonal neutralisation of testosterone in "sexual deviants" aged 19 or over was passed by 137 votes to 13. President Lee Myung-bak is expected to sign it into law when he returns from abroad.

The original version of the bill was introduced two years ago after a 58-year-old man attacked an eight-year-old girl. However, many were concerned by the science behind the treatment, and pressure to pass it waned until a renewed spate of attacks this year.

Last week, a 44-year-old repeat sex offender was charged with kidnapping a girl, 8, and raping her, and an investigation began at the weekend into the case of a Vietnamese girl snatched from a street during the day and raped.

The punishment, if ordered, will be described in court as "medical treatment".

Violent sexual assaults on kids sparks bill; unclear if president will sign

by SANGWON YOON Associated Press Writer
updated 6/29/2010 1:06:31 PM

SEOUL, South Korea � South Korea's parliament voted Tuesday to legalize chemical castration as punishment for convicted child sex offenders after a series of violent assaults sparked outrage nationwide.

The bill was first introduced in 2008 in response to a high-profile case in which a 58-year-old man raped and assaulted an 8-year-old girl. The attack caused widespread revulsion and left the victim with lasting physical injuries.

Government policies, including the installation of more security personnel near school grounds as well as multiple surveillance cameras, have not prevented a series of similar cases.

A 33-year-old man who raped and murdered a 13-year-old girl in February was sentenced to death last week. In another high-profile case, a 45-year-old man allegedly kidnapped a student from her elementary school and raped her in the basement of a church.

South Korean legislators at the National Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 137-13. More than 140 lawmakers either did not make a choice or did not vote. The legislation would take effect a year after being signed into law.

The legislation, which requires the South Korean president's signature to become law, would allow judges to sentence adult sex offenders who victimize minors under 16 and have been diagnosed as sexual deviants to chemical castration.

It was unclear if President Lee Myung-bak would sign it. He is on a visit to Latin America and his office would not comment.

rollo · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China

Seems humane. What they did was horrendous and they deserve this at least.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Yes, what they did was horrendous. However, castration--either physical or chemical--is not medically ethical. The greater issue, though, for "chemical castration," is whether it'll work. First, the offender must appear as scheduled to ingest the chemicals. All he has to do, then, is to run away. And what to do with violent sexual criminals who are female?

No, this bill is just pandering. What the offenders deserve is incarceration.

rollo · Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China

I would argue that medical ethics only apply to the ethical. Offenses like this should mean that you lose certain rights. But you are correct that the chemicals might not work. I also think that incareration should go along with the castration. This is not all related to a sex drive, there is a predispositon to violence in these offenders. Society has a responsibility to protect children.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

brickabrack · Joined: 17 May 2010

"Seems humane. What they did was horrendous and they deserve this at least."

Not humane. Yes, what they did was horrendous. Put them where they can't do it again.

Sometimes we forget that humans are just another class of animal slllooowwyyyy evolving.

peppermint · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 6:08 pm Post subject:

There's lots of evidence that castration doesn't always work for these sorts of offenders. If they can't penetrate their victims on their own, they tend to use whatever's at hand. The problem is in the offender's brains, not their balls.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

And "chemical castration" will never work if the offender doesn't take the drug. Look at the problems with monitoring released offenders now. Do you really think Korea's going to have a handle on that if this law is passed?

recessiontime · Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:48 pm Post subject:

maybe the k's are thinking ahead. Perhaps castration can minimize the number of dumb-enough-to-be caught-rapist genes in the future.

riverboy · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Location: Incheon

Canada has the dangerous offenders act. I think this is something many countries might woant to consider. My major concern is these guys getting a second chance, which is often the case.

Child rapists, have no right to walk the streets again.

bacasper · Joined: 26 Mar 2007

Compare the OPs with how the Korea Times spins their hysteria-mongering:

06-30-2010 17:43 여성 음성 듣기 남성 음성 듣기

Chemical castration

The Happy Warrior · Joined: 10 Feb 2010

Forget for a moment whether the rapist deserves castration.

Are we really willing to hand over such powers to the state? Are we so sure it'll be used within the proper procedures? That it won't disproportionately impact the lesser in society? That the state won't judge the innocent guilty?

After I ask myself these questions, I'm opposed to the law before I can even evaluate whether it would be just.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Here's an odd thought. Let's say this law goes into effect. Then let's say that you're a decent sort, not breaking any laws at all, and you're a foreigner teaching English at a hagweon. Your boss decides the best way to get out of paying you what he owes is to declare you've done something untoward with the female students. Bam! All of a sudden, you're a molester. And then Korea tries you, confines you, castrates you, and deports you, in that order.

Good system, huh? No, I'm with The Happy Warrior on this. That is far too much power for the government to wield. But, hey, if the current ROK parliament wants to act just like the Japanese colonial government, I guess it's their choice.