'Victim Rights Check 10' guide distributed

Legal support strengthened from early investigation stage

A participant holds a placard at a press conference at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, calling for a comprehensive plan to address gender violence in the workplace. Sept. 26, 2022 [Yonhap]
A participant holds a placard at a press conference at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, calling for a comprehensive plan to address gender violence in the workplace. Sept. 26, 2022 [Yonhap]

The government has unveiled a protection plan for gender violence victims amid growing concerns that a newly introduced criminal justice system — which strips prosecutors of their supplementary investigative powers — will leave victims to navigate case proceedings and appeal procedures on their own.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyung held a briefing Thursday at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu to announce the "Gender Violence Victim Rights Protection and Support Plan." She said that while systems and judicial frameworks may change, "the state's duty to protect victims can never change," and pledged to ensure that victims are not left in legal blind spots or marginalized at any stage, from the early investigation through to their recovery.

The ministry said it has distributed a guide titled "Gender Violence Victim Rights Check 10," which outlines the rights and procedures victims need to know throughout the investigation and trial process.

The checklist covers everything from initial consultations to investigation procedures and appeals. Victims can receive assistance from the first police interview through free legal support, and can be guided through remedies when an investigation is delayed or their rights are violated. The guide also explains rights available at each stage of the investigation, including how to file an objection against a decision not to refer a case to prosecutors.

The ministry plans to strengthen free legal support through 625 victim support agencies nationwide.

To that end, it will raise the fees paid to lawyers providing free legal support from 1.5 million won ($1,120) to 2.5 million won starting next year, and will also expand workshop programs to improve the quality of legal assistance.

To prevent secondary harm, the ministry will double the number of law enforcement personnel receiving gender-sensitivity training — from 2,500 this year to 5,000 next year.

Experts said that under the revised criminal procedures, investigative agencies must provide sufficient guidance and victim support organizations must take a more active role to ensure victims do not miss opportunities to exercise their rights.

Han Min-kyung, a professor of public administration at the Korean National Police University, said victims want not just psychological counseling but practical help such as legal support and legal monitoring. "Victim support organizations also need to play a more proactive role in helping victims exercise their rights in a timely manner under the changed criminal procedures," she said.


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