Parliament approves tougher sex assault law to protect disabled, children

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly passed on Friday a revision bill that scraps the statute of limitations for rape against the disabled and children in a move to implement stronger punishments for those who prey on the most vulnerable.
Lawmakers voted for a package of measures to toughen punishment against sex offenders, a bipartisan move that came in light of public outcry spurred by a local box-office hit based on a shocking true story of teachers' repeated sexual abuses against hearing-impaired students.
The revision bill allows a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for those convicted of raping the disabled or children under age 13, a much heavier punishment than the current up to seven and 10 years for each respective group.
Workers of facilities that protect or educate disabled people, if found guilty of sexually assaulting them, will receive heavier punishments than other sex offenders, under the new law.
The parliament also approved the formation of an 18-member special committee tasked with investigating human rights infringements, including sexual assaults, against the disabled and preparing measures to curb the infringements.