South Korea: Paedophiles to be chemically castrated

The Ministry of Justice has enacted a law allowing the use of "chemical castration" on convicted paedophiles, a spokesman said yesterday, making South Korea the first Asian country to permit the punishment.

The law gives judges the power to order sex offenders who have attacked children under 16 to undergo a medical procedure, widely known as chemical castration, which can last for up to 15 years. Human-rights groups are opposing the move.