Treatment for perversion still rare despite rise in sex crimes

Less than 350 people received treatment for sexual perversion last year, as public concerns continue amid a steady increase in sex crimes, a lawmaker pointed out Thursday.

According to government data revealed by Rep. In Jae-keun of the Democratic Party of Korea, only 326 people were treated last year for disorders of sexual preference such as exhibitionism, voyeurism and pedophilia. 

At the same time the number of sex crimes rose to 29,414 last year, up 18.4 percent from 2013.

The greatest number, 86, were treated for unspecified perversion, while manias for indecent exposure and voyeurism tied at second with 82.

There were 39 frotteurism criminal patients -- those who obtain sexual pleasure by rubbing their body parts on other people without their consent, often on crowded public transportation. Fourteen were treated for obsessions with certain clothing articles and 13 for pedophilia.

Eight were treated for multiple sex preference disorders while four were admitted for sadomasochism.

“Most of the patients are those who have committed crimes and were forced into medical treatment -- not by their own volition,” the second-term lawmaker explained.

“It is thought that the number of people who have such sexual disorders is greater than the statistics.”

She also urged health authorities to make more efforts to address mental illness.

By age group, the largest portion of sex criminals were 21 to 25, at 12.1 percent of the total. This was followed by those aged 26 to 30, at 11.3 percent. Offenders aged 19 years or younger accounted for 9.7 percent.

By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)