More Sex Offenders Could Face Chemical Castration

The government on Tuesday decided to expand the option of chemical castration to sex offenders who committed crimes against victims under the age of 19. The current law stipulates that only convicted offenders who sexually abuse minors under 16 can be chemically castrated.

A Justice Minstry official said, "All sex offenders should be punished severely, regardless whether the offence was committed against minors or adults, but we cannot expand the scope of chemical castration while the offender's human rights and the effectiveness of the measure are still much debated. For the time being, we decided to expand the law to offenders who molested minors under 19."

The ministry said it does not expect the number of people who are chemically castrated to rise much. Since the measure was introduced in July last year, only one man, a serial rapist of young girl, had the treatment in May.