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A convicted child molester will be the first Korean to undergo chemical castration, the Justice Ministry said Tuesday.
The ministry's panel on medical treatment and custody deliberation reached the decision Monday to administer a set of medicines designed to suppress the libido of a 40-year-old man, surnamed Park, convicted of four counts of sexual assault against children.
In addition to the medication which will be administered for three years, he will undergo behavioral and psychological therapy, it added.
It will be the first case of chemical castration in Korea after a related law permitting the practice passed the National Assembly in June 2010.
The law allows forced medication for up to 15 years on sexual offenders, aged 19 or above, who had victimized minors under the age of 16.
Implementation of the law was, however, delayed for more than a year amid opposition from some civic groups and academics citing a lack of social consensus.