Last Change:
05/27/2025
Criminal Act
Year: 1953
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Freedom of movement, Liberty & security of person, Documentation
Description
The Criminal Act of the Republic of Korea aims to maintain social order and protect legal interests by defining criminal offenses and their corresponding penalties. It establishes the fundamental principles of criminal liability and serves as the cornerstone of the Korean criminal justice system.
Selected provisions
A person who interferes with the execution of duties by a public official by fraudulent means, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years, or five not exceeding ten million won. <Amended on Dec. 29, 1995>
A person who, by means of violence or intimidation, has sexual intercourse with another shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for a limited term of at least three years.
(1) A person who buys or sells another shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than seven years.
(2) A person who buys or sells another for the purpose of engaging in an indecent act, sexual intercourse, marriage, or for gain, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for at least one year up to ten years.
(3) A person who buys or sells another for the purpose of labor exploitation, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, or the acquisition of organs shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for at least two years up to 15 years.
(4) The preceding paragraph shall apply to a person who buys or sells another for the purpose of transporting him or her or her out of the Republic of Korea, or a person who transports a purchased person out of the Republic of Korea.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Apr. 5, 2013]
(1) A person who defames another by publicly alleging facts shall be punished by imprisonment with or without labor for not more than two years or by a fine not exceeding five million won. <Amended on Dec. 29, 1995>
(2) A person who defames another by publicly alleging false facts shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years, suspension of qualifications for not more than ten years, or a fine not exceeding ten million won. <Amended on Dec. 29, 1995>
A person who publicly insults another shall be punished by imprisonment with or without labor for not more than one year or by a fine not exceeding two million won.