Sex Offenders Against Minors Barred from Running for Office for 20 Years... Nam Insoon Proposes Public Official Election Act Amendment

Restrictions on Running for President, National Assembly, Local Government, and Local Council Seats

Prompted by the Case of Cheongju City Council Member Choi Youngjung

Nam Insoon Proposes the "Prevention of Candidacy for Sexual Offenders Against Minors Act"

Nam Insoon, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on August 21 that she has sponsored an amendment to the Public Official Election Act. The bill proposes restricting the right to run for elected office—including president, National Assembly member, head of local governments, and local council member—for 20 years for individuals who have been convicted of sexual crimes against minors.

Under the current Public Official Election Act, there are no regulations restricting the candidacy rights of those convicted of sexual crimes against minors. As a result, current officeholders who receive a fine or a suspended sentence may retain their positions. Moreover, even those receiving imprisonment or more severe penalties can run for office immediately after their sentence is completed.

Nam Insoon, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the proposed amendment, in line with the disqualification standards of the National Public Service Act, those fined or given a suspended sentence will be prohibited from candidacy for 20 years from the date the verdict is finalized. For those sentenced to institutional treatment or imprisonment or more, the ban will last for 20 years from the completion or exemption of the sentence.

Even if the victim is not a minor, the amendment also stipulates that individuals convicted of sexual crimes such as sexual assault, stalking, or the distribution of obscene materials, who receive a fine of 1 million won or more, will be disqualified from candidacy for 3 years. As a result, current officeholders would be required to leave their posts, and their right to run for office would be restricted for 3 years.

Deputy Speaker Nam stated, "Strict standards must apply to the representatives of the people, who are entrusted with grave responsibilities and authority. Individuals convicted of sexual crimes against minors are not qualified to represent public opinion." She added, "By setting high moral standards for elected officials, I hope this serves as an opportunity to gain public trust and firmly establish a principle of zero tolerance for sexual crimes against minors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.