A daily average of 2.5 sexual offenses against children occurred last year, a lawmaker said Thursday.

National Police Agency data revealed by Rep. You Dae-woon of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy showed that there were 929 sex crimes against children aged 12 and below in 2013, up 13.4 percent from 819 cases reported in the previous year.

By type, sexual molestation topped the list with 708 cases, followed by rape and adultery (115 cases) and others (106 cases). More than 70 offenders remained on the loose.

Rep. You said, “Young victims are vulnerable to the danger of sexual offenses as they lack self-defense. Thus, it is important for the government to work on social consensus and implement practical measures to prevent sex crimes against children.”

According to Supreme Prosecutor’s Office data released in 2013, 42.6 percent of child sex crimes were committed between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. and 40 percent of the offenders were previously acquainted with their victims, being neighbors, family members or friends.

The major reasons for sexual offenses targeting children were deviant sexual impulses (210 cases), followed by curiosity (118 cases) and temptation (66 cases).

Several brutal sexual offenses involving children and juveniles have sparked public outrage recently.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court sentenced Ko Jong-suk to life imprisonment and chemical castration after he raped and attempted to kill an 8-year-old girl in Naju, South Jeolla Province, marking the first ruling imposing chemical castration on a sex offender in Korea.

By Kim Da-sol, Intern reporter
(dasolkim@heraldcorp.com)