Gov`t to create DNA database for convicted felons

SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will enforce a new anti-crime law
beginning next year that will allow authorities to collect and store DNA samples
of convicted felons for use in future investigations, government officials said
Wednesday.
The National Assembly has approved a new law on use and protection of DNA
information aimed at reducing recidivism among violent criminals, the Justice
Ministry said in a release. The law will take effect in July next year.
Under the new law, prosecutors and police will be authorized to collect DNA
samples from individuals arrested for 11 types of violent crime, including
murder, armed robbery, rape, sexual assault against children, drug use,
kidnapping and extortion, ministry officials said.
Crime labs will then develop profiles from the samples and enter them into the
government's databank.
The first cases to be affected by the new law are those of serial killer Kang
Ho-soon and Cho Doo-soon, who was sentenced to 12 years in jail for raping an
eight-year-old girl. Both men will have their DNA samples stored.
The ministry expects to ultimately store DNA samples from nearly 30,000 convicted
felons every year, according to the officials.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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