Participation Solidarity has publicly opposed President Lee Jae-myung's recent directive to discuss lowering the age of criminal responsibility for young offenders, which is currently set at 14 years. They assert that there is a lack of adequate evidence to support the argument that reducing this age would lead to a decrease in juvenile crime rates. Instead, they emphasize that such a proposal is regressive from a child rights perspective, as it contradicts international standards and could exacerbate the issues related to juvenile delinquency.

In a statement released on June 6, the organization highlighted that society must focus on addressing the root causes of juvenile crime, which are often linked to structural societal issues such as neglect, abuse, poverty, and harmful environments. They called for the government to abandon what they deem unproductive discussions on altering the legal definitions for young offenders, advocating instead for the establishment of comprehensive support systems for recovery and prevention. They argue that the state’s role should be to create supportive networks among individuals, families, schools, and communities rather than pursuing punitive measures.

This debate follows President Lee’s remarks at a government meeting where he noted the perceived public support for lowering the age limit and proposed to gather more input from relevant agencies and citizens over a two-month period. The existing legal framework regarding young offenders has remained unchanged since its establishment in 1953, and there is a growing concern that simply lowering the age of criminal responsibility could lead to an increase in harsher penalties without addressing the underlying issues that contribute to youth crime.