Foreigners to get equal criminal compensation

Foreigners who have fallen victim to crimes here may receive the same governmental compensation as domestic citizens from next year, said officials Tuesday.

The Justice Ministry has undertaken work on the revision of the criminal victim protection law to include foreigners staying here in the beneficiary list, said the officials.

The present law only offers financial compensation to criminal victims who are Korean nationals.

Among the revision bill options suggested to the ministry, the most lenient one includes all foreigners who are staying legally in Korea and the most restrictive one embraces foreign spouses and their children.

The ministry, after considering all options and discussing them with the Gender Equality Ministry, will confirm the final draft and submit it to the National Assembly plenary session in September, said officials.

If passed, the bill will take effect as early as next year.

The Korean law, so far, has been restrictive over the protection of criminal victims who hold foreign nationality, said officials.