South Korea Forms Citizen Panel on Juvenile Liability Age
South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family held the second full meeting of the “Social Dialogue on Juvenile Offenders” to discuss policy options surrounding the age at which minors can be treated as criminally liable. The meeting took place in Seoul’s Government Complex in Jongno, with Minister Won Min-kyung delivering remarks.
The discussion follows a directive from President Lee Jae-myung to clarify the issues involved in lowering the age for criminal liability. The ministry launched the dialogue after the first plenary session on March 6 and a related public forum on March 18, and the current meeting focused on sharing the results of the first forum and outlining next steps for public engagement.
The collaboration is led by co-chair Won Min-kyung alongside law scholar No Jeong-hee, and includes academics, legal professionals, private-sector experts, and officials from related government agencies. The group reviewed the outcomes of the initial forum and discussed plans for ongoing public outreach and engagement.
A key element is expanding citizen participation. The ministry plans to form a citizen panel of about 200 people, selected by age, gender, and region, to participate in deliberative processes. In April, the panel will hold one offline session in the metropolitan area and one in the provinces. Online input will be collected from early April via the ministry’s website, which will also host explanatory videos on the concept of juvenile crime, relevant statistics, and the issues surrounding age adjustments to help the public understand the policy context.
In parallel, on March 27 the 22nd Youth Special Meeting will explain the system to roughly 120 youths, with ongoing opportunities for feedback through the 1388 portal, a government platform for youth-related input.
Minister Won said the meeting helped shape operational plans for the dialogue, including how to communicate with the public and how to structure future steps. The ministry aims to refine the timetable and the approach to public input based on the discussions from the plenary, subcommittees, and forums.
Law professor No Jeong-hee urged the group not to fixate on the question of whether to lower the age of criminal liability. He called for meaningful discussion on reforms such as juvenile-support programs, staffing and facilities, and early intervention that centers on youth needs.
Why this matters beyond Korea: Korea’s approach to juvenile justice—how it defines criminal responsibility for minors, how it engages the public in reform debates, and how it plans to deliver policy changes—has international relevance. As the United States and Korea collaborate on security, technology, trade, and governance, developments in Korea’s juvenile justice policy could influence regional norms, human rights considerations, and cross-border policy dialogue. The use of online portals and citizen deliberation also reflects broader trends in digital democracy that may inform policy discussions in other democracies, including the United States.