Key facts
- Three 12-year-old boys have been placed in juvenile protection facilities in Cheonan, South Korea.
- The boys are accused of stealing cars and driving without licenses in separate incidents in May.
- Police sought emergency warrants due to the seriousness of the offenses and the risk of reoffending.
- In South Korea, children aged 10 to under 14 cannot be criminally prosecuted.
South Korean police have taken the rare step of placing three 12-year-old boys in juvenile protection facilities following a series of car thefts and unlicensed driving incidents. The move underscores growing concern over serious offenses committed by children too young to face criminal prosecution.
Police in Cheonan, a city approximately 90km south of Seoul, stated on June 17 that the boys were placed in facilities after a series of car thefts in May. A police official told Yonhap News Agency that emergency accompaniment warrants are sought for children below the age of criminal responsibility if cases are serious, there is a risk of reoffending, or guardians cannot manage the child.