● Updated law: Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses

What it does: Allows investigators to launch emergency undercover investigations into suspected digital sex crimes targeting underage victims

Took effect: April 17

To combat an increase in digital sex crimes, South Korea has been working in recent years to bolster regulations and punishments by passing several related bills.

The latest such law to take effect is an amendment to the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses, which allows investigators to launch an immediate emergency undercover investigation when a suspected digital sex crime involves exploitation of a minor. Investigators will not be required to receive prior approval before conducting a probe in such cases.

Investigators will also be required to file a request with the Korea Communications Standards Commission to remove and delete any exploitative materials found in the course of the probe.

The law took effect as the number of digital sex crime victims in Korea exceeded 10,000 for the first time last year, according to data from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

The number of digital sex crime victims who received help from the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center increased to 10,305 in 2024, a 14.7 percent increase on-year. Teenagers and people in their 20s accounted for the majority, or 78.7 percent of the victims.

● Updated law: Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act

What it does: Assigns legal responsibility to local and municipal governments to delete illegally produced materials and support victims

Took effect: April 17

Starting April 17, the role of the state-funded Advocacy Center for Online Abuse Victims will be legally expanded. Not only will it handle its initial tasks of removing illegal pornography online and providing counseling, but will pursue cross-border projects with similar organizations overseas and build its own education and consulting programs.

It will open local branches nationwide to delete illegal videos and photos and help victims by providing emergency counseling.

With the opening of the local branches, local and municipal governments will now have a legal responsibility to delete illegal materials if the victim requests it. Previously, only the central government had a legal responsibility to support victims.

Both the central and local governments are now able to legally remove content that includes information about the victim’s identity. Such information includes the victim's address, name, age, occupation, education, appearance and other personal information. Photographs that can be used to identify the victim can be deleted as well.

-- In collaboration with the Ministry of Government Legislation, The Korea Herald publishes a monthly article on laws that have recently been updated in South Korea. The ministry’s Easy Law service (https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM/Main.laf) provides accessible summaries of Korean laws grouped by category in English and 11 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mongolian, Nepali, Thai, Uzbek and Vietnamese -- Ed.