Starting on January 25, a new law governing the release of criminal suspect identities will come into effect in South Korea. 

Dubbed the "mug shot law," it allows the police to publicly disclose a recent photo, along with the name and age of individuals charged with various crimes, including sexual violence against minors, certain drug offenses, arson, armed revolt, and participation in organized crime rings.

According to the January 2 report by The Korean Herald, the National Assembly passed this law in October 2023, providing a legal basis for authorities to share suspect information with the public. Under the new legislation, the police can release a photo taken by investigators within 30 days of deciding its public release. This image will remain accessible on the internet for 30 years.

Prior to this, South Korea's standard for releasing suspect information was less defined, often left to a deliberation committee of the National Police Agency to decide on a case-by-case basis. Previously, identity disclosure was generally limited to suspects of "violent crimes such as murder and rape." The new law expands this to include a broader range of serious crimes and introduces a five-day grace period for suspects to provide statements before their information is published.

Both suspects and defendants—those undergoing trial or indicted—are now subject to having their identities disclosed, a change from the previous practice of restricting this to suspects awaiting trial. This shift comes after heightened public demand following a series of high-profile attacks last year. It aims to address inconsistent identity disclosure procedures and the use of outdated photos, ensuring that suspects' current appearances are accurately represented to the public.