Amid growing public sentiment for harsher penalties for juvenile crime and discussions about lowering the age of criminal responsibility, a major forum will explore effective reforms to the youth justice system.
On June 10, the Seoul Bar Association, led by President Cho Soon-yeol, announced that it will co-host a forum titled "Issues and Challenges of Youth Justice" on June 11 at 2 p.m. at the Justice Hall on the fifth floor of the association's building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, alongside lawmakers Lee Seong-yoon of the Democratic Party and Son Sol of the Justice Party.
The forum aims to address concerns raised by experts that recent discussions on youth justice should not be limited to merely adjusting age criteria. It seeks to comprehensively review the entire youth justice system, from the structural factors leading to youth involvement in crime to the state's responsibility for preventing recidivism and facilitating social reintegration.
Experts from academia and the legal community agree that effective responses to juvenile crime require not only an expansion of criminal responsibility but also a robust support system to help youths involved in the judicial process avoid reoffending. They emphasize the urgent need to assess the current operations of the youth law, which aims to adjust the environment and correct the behavior of antisocial youths.
At the forum, Lee Seung-hyun, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute of Criminal Justice Policy, will deliver the first presentation on "Challenges in Improving Youth Justice," highlighting institutional gaps and areas for enhancement. Following that, attorney Kang Jeong-eun from the public interest law group Duru will discuss practical issues and specific alternatives based on the current state of youth justice operations.
After the presentations, attorney Yeom Hyeong-guk, chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Seoul Bar Association, will moderate an in-depth discussion featuring various experts.
Panelists will include Professor Kim Hyuk from Pukyong National University, Kim Gi-heon, head of the Hope Community, Kang Mi-jeong, team leader at Save the Children, Lee Geun-a, a reporter for the Korea Times, and Kim Bong-nam, a presiding judge at the Daejeon Family Court, who will represent perspectives from academia, civil society, media, and the judiciary. They are expected to examine the realities of post-juvenile crime management and engage in vigorous discussions on effective legislative and institutional improvements.
A representative from the Seoul Bar Association expressed hope that the forum will provide a balanced examination of the various issues and challenges surrounding youth justice, stating, "We expect to establish a sustainable legislative and institutional framework that encompasses not only the strengthening of penalties but also the reintegration of youth into society and the prevention of recidivism."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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