Juvenile protection cases filed with South Korean courts reached 51,325 last year, a slight increase from the previous year, while the number of children under 14 who received protective dispositions fell 7.9% to 6,718.
Juvenile protection cases filed last year totaled 51,325, up 0.9% from 50,848 a year earlier, according to the Supreme Court's judicial yearbook released on the 2nd. Filings have risen steadily over the past five years, from 35,438 in 2021 to 43,042 in 2022, 50,094 in 2023, 50,848 in 2024 and 51,325 in 2025.
Investigative agencies and courts may refer cases involving minors under 19 to juvenile divisions when protective measures are deemed necessary. After reviewing a case, a court may order measures such as placing the minor in the custody of a guardian, community service, probation or commitment to a juvenile reformatory.
Courts disposed of 50,483 juvenile protection cases last year, with 30,410 minors receiving protective dispositions. By age, 6,718 were under 14, accounting for 22.1%, followed by 10,054 aged 14 to 15 at 33.1%, 9,765 aged 16 to 17 at 32.1% and 3,873 aged 18 at 12.7%.
The number of under-14 children receiving protective dispositions declined from the previous year. The figure had climbed from 4,142 in 2021 to 5,245 in 2022, 7,175 in 2023 and 7,294 in 2024, before falling 7.9% to 6,718 in 2025.
Theft was the most common offense, with 16,666 cases, or 32.5% of all filings. Violations of the law on punishment of violent acts followed with 4,168 cases, or 8.1%, then assault with 4,016 cases at 7.8%, fraud with 3,247 cases at 6.3%, road traffic law violations with 2,647 cases at 5.2% and violations of the special law on punishment of sexual violence crimes with 2,257 cases at 4.4%.
Among the 1,341 cases in which a motive was recorded in the court database, impulsive behavior was the most frequent at 756 cases, or 56.4%. Curiosity accounted for 304 cases at 22.7%, followed by a desire for easy money at 87 cases, or 6.5%, revenge at 75 cases, or 5.6%, dissatisfaction with their circumstances at 38 cases, or 2.8%, temptation at 26 cases, or 1.9%, raising living expenses at 24 cases, or 1.8%, and entertainment at 14 cases, or 1.0%.
Domestic protection cases filed last year rose 11.4% to 20,168 from 18,106 a year earlier. By charge, bodily injury and assault accounted for 14,270 cases, or 70.8%, followed by intimidation at 3,084 cases, or 15.3%, and property destruction at 2,468 cases, or 12.2%.
Among domestic violence offenders whose cases ended with a protective disposition, those aged 40 to 49 were the largest group at 2,473, or 26.2%. They were followed by 2,303 offenders aged 50 to 59, or 24.4%, 1,970 aged 60 and over, or 20.8%, and 1,714 aged 30 to 39, or 18.1%.
Among the 1,355 domestic violence cases in which a motive was recorded, "other" was the most common at 769 cases, or 56.8%. Specific motives included impulsive behavior driven by anger at 259 cases, or 19.1%, unfair treatment or abuse at 191 cases, or 14.1%, dissatisfaction with their circumstances at 104 cases, or 7.7%, and intoxication at 24 cases, or 1.8%.
Divorce cases filed at the first-instance trial level last year totaled 25,638, down 4.5% from 26,849 a year earlier.
