Presidential office weighs life without parole as part of public safety push

South Korea's presidential office is contemplating life imprisonment without parole as part of a push to enhance public safety and combat crimes against vulnerable individuals. The initiative targets relationship-based crimes and acts of violence with seemingly random motives. This comes in the wake of a series of high-profile cases involving relationship-based violence in recent years, including the recent killing of a woman on Jeju island who had been under police protection after reporting stalking and dating violence.

The government will also intensify efforts to eradicate crimes such as scams, illegal drug use, illegal private lending, digital sex crimes, and false or fabricated information, aiming to safeguard people's daily lives and public order. President Lee Jae Myung instructed the Cabinet to channel resources nationwide for this purpose.

In cases involving economic harm that exploit vulnerable individuals, the government intends to pursue perpetrators even overseas, dismantle their criminal operations, and block their proceeds, according to Lim Kwang-hyun, the president's chief of staff.

The proposal to introduce life imprisonment without parole, which would allow courts to differentiate between life sentences with and without parole, was approved in 2023. However, the bill did not pass the 21st National Assembly before its term ended in May 2024. Currently, inmates serving life sentences can be considered for parole after serving 20 years.