SEOUL: South Korea will this week chemically castrate a man repeatedly convicted of sexually assaulting children in the country’s first use of the punishment, an official said yesterday.
The 45-year-old surnamed Park is due to be released from prison in July after serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted rape of a 10-year-old girl.
He will be given an injection every three months for the next three years to reduce his sexual urges by manipulating his hormones “whether he likes it or not”, justice ministry official Kim Hyung-Yul told AFP.
Park previously served three prison terms for sexually attacking girls under the age of 16 in 1984, 1991 and 1998.
A ministry committee on Monday issued the order authorising chemical castration – the first since legislation authorising the procedure came into force last July – said Kim.
The punishment is available for those aged over 19 who have committed crimes against children under the age of 16.
It was not clear whether Park had agreed to the treatment, but the most serious child sex offences such as his do not require the offender’s consent. — AFP