A law was passed recently to allow the police to release mugshots/pictures of perpetrators/individuals charged with crime - bringing about both positive and negative effects. Unlike America, where mugshot records are publicly available, in Korea, these mugshots have been blurred/censored in media, sometimes even only referring to the person as their last name, such as Mr. Kim or Ms. Park. By doing so, the government protects the identity of the perpetrator as one of their given rights, but this has raised many concerns. What happens when said perpetrator escapes or is released, only to commit another crime? How can the public population be aware of such criminal identities if they don't have any information about the criminal?
Of course, these are extreme scenarios. Certain procedures mean information about the suspect can be released to the public/press, given the right conditions. However, the laws upholding the privacy of the criminal have often hindered the release of information to the public, resulting in minimal effects. There have been numerous serial crimes in the past couple decades in which controversy had sparked from the lack of disclosures on suspects to the public, raising extreme concerns. There are and has been a subset of people who remain advocates for the privacy of the perpetrator, of course to a certain extent, as this issue has to do with violating one's human rights.
I believe this issue is heavily intertwined with the culture in Korea, or Asian countries in general. Crime rates in Eastern Asia are especially low in comparison to the West - laws inhibiting guns, stricter drug controls, etc. definitely contribute to this, but a greater inhibiting factor is social perception and culture. Perhaps a reason Korea can afford to protect the identity of their perpetrators is the lower crime rates, but what ends up happening in such suppressive cultures is the emergence of extreme ciminals. Korea is a heavily collectivist culture, compared to the West which is heavily individualistic. A collectivist culture places emphasis on the connections between an individual and their family, and their society as a whole. The group is much more important as a whole, rather than one's individualistic gains/needs. This, combined with your common negative social perception of crime, is quite the repressor, as committing a crime is much more consequential to your family, friends, community, etc., in terms of identity, shame, etc. Committing a crime isn't doesn't just bring about legal repercussions, it also paints you as a shameful entity of society.
With the new law, people hope that the public remains safer thanks to better divulgement of information. The bill itself was passed unanimously, voted in 215-0 in favor of passing. This says a lot about the previous practice, and while this has sparked the debate between privacy and transparency, hopefully it creates a positive outcome.
Comments
The contrast with practices in other countries, like the US, where such information is more readily available, highlights significant cultural differences in handling crime and privacy. It's interesting to consider how societal values, such as the collective mindset in Korea, might influence these legal decisions. The unanimous vote suggests a strong consensus towards the need for greater transparency in this area, possibly driven by past experiences with serial crimes. This shift could indeed lead to better-informed citizens and potentially safer communities, though it also opens up discussions about the potential consequences on individuals' reputations and privacy. It's a complex issue that certainly reflects broader cultural and social dynamics.
Wow, that is very fascinating. I remember watching the news and seeing blurred out mugshots of criminals when I was younger. I didn't know that perpetrator's privacy was partly protected due to low crime rates, maybe it's because I watched to many dramas...
Your post really threw me for a loop, I understand both sides of this coin. I like to see this being discussed, although it might shine light on people who do not want to be in the limelight it adds to public safety which is an important aspect of Korean culture and lifestyle.
I do agree that releasing these images and other details about these criminals boosts public safety. In America, we see criminals have their mugshots and pictures of them released and shown on the news without hesitation. But this definitely does bring up privacy issues because the perpetrator's relatives and friends could then be subject to targeted harassment which is quite an issue in Korea. Some pros and cons to consider, but the safety of the public is certainly an essential part of a developed country such as Korea