[Bisexual Inclusion] Legislation gap on home invasion and forcible harassment… Victims in lawsuits are 'scary'

【 Anchor Comment 】
We are planning to go beyond gender equality and now move towards gender inclusion as part of our year-round plan.
However, if women are always anxious because they are not safe from sexual crimes, they will not be able to achieve even basic living, beyond equality between men and women.
Recently, the crime of forcible intrusion into a home was ruled unconstitutional due to excessively heavy punishment, creating a legislative vacuum.
As a result, the women who have suffered damages and are filing lawsuits are feeling anxious.
Moreover, as the number of women living alone is increasing, many say that legislation is urgently needed.
This is reporter Choi Hee-ji.

【 reporter 】
A man who was wandering in front of the room called a lodging employee with a master key and naturally opened the door and went in.

A woman in her 20s was sleeping alone in the room, and the man committed indecent assault by forcibly removing her clothes.

Mr. A, the victim of the incident, is still filled with fear when he thinks about the incident that day.

▶ Interview: Mr. A / Victim of forced home invasion and molestation
- "Because she was forcibly molested in a safe space, from a woman's perspective, she cannot feel safe in any space...."

After more than a year of investigation and trial, the sentence was about to be handed down, but last month, the Constitutional Court ruled that the 'home invasion and forcible molestation crime' was unconstitutional, so we had to wait for another trial.

Even if the sentence was commuted, at least three years in prison was expected, but as the law disappeared, the possibility of being released on probation also increased.

▶ Interview: Mr. A / Victim of forced home invasion and molestation
- “I was scared because I knew I could get probation (since it was my first offense) and I thought there was a possibility of retaliation….”

Currently, there are more than 3 million single-woman households in Korea, and the crime they fear most is home invasion.

Women who have been victims of sexual crimes complain of pain, saying they cannot feel safe even in their own space.

A lawyer representing female victims of forcible molestation and attempted rape said that the most difficult thing she hears is that the abuse occurred at home.

▶ Interview: Seong-Geun Cho / Attorney specializing in sexual violence
- "Some extreme choices were made because the victim (whom I am representing) had to live in fear in his/her home where he/she spends nearly half of his/her day."

An official from the Ministry of Justice said, "We are reviewing specific contents and plans," but until now, a month after the Constitutional Court's decision, there has been no discussion of specific follow-up legislation to protect victims.

▶ Standing: Choi Hee-ji / Reporter
- "It is pointed out that since only the lower limit of the sentence was the only issue with the forced indecent assault clause for home invasion, it should be reasonably adjusted and legislation should be enacted as soon as possible. This is Choi Hee-ji of MBN News."

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