Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to contribute to investigations and prevention of crimes and the protection of citizens' rights and interests by providing for matters necessary for the collection, use, and protection of DNA identification information.
Article 2(Definitions) #
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows:
1. The term "DNA" refers to Deoxyribonucleic Acid, a chemical substance containing information about the life phenomena of each living organism;
2. The term "DNA sample" means a thing subject to DNA identification, such as blood, saliva, hair, or oral mucosa of an individual;
3. The term "DNA identification" means acquiring DNA identification information by examining and analyzing a specific part of DNA base sequence, which does not contain genetic information, for the purpose of identification of an individual;
4. The term "DNA identification information" means information acquired through a DNA identification process for the purpose of identification of an individual, which is indicated by a combination of serial numbers or codes;
5. The term "DNA identification database (hereinafter referred to as "database") means a collection of DNA identification information acquired pursuant to this Act and stored systematically in computers and other storage media, whose information can be accessed or searched individually.
Article 3(State's Responsibilities) #
(1) The State shall prepare a policy necessary for maintaining the human dignity and protecting privacy of each person from being invaded in the course of collecting DNA samples and managing and using DNA identification information.
(2) DNA identification information stored in the database shall not include any information or personal data, other than matters necessary for the identification of an individual.
Article 4(Allocation of Administrative Works for DNA Identification Information) #
(1) The Prosecutor General shall have overall control over administrative works regarding DNA identification information acquired from DNA samples collected pursuant to Article 5.
(2) The Commissioner General of the National Policy Agency shall have overall control over administrative works regarding DNA identification information acquired from DNA samples collected pursuant to Articles 6 and 7.
(3) The Prosecutor General and the Commissioner General of the National Policy Agency may link their databases to operate them together.
Article 5(Collection of DNA Samples from Prisoners, etc.) #
(1) A public prosecutor (including a military prosecutor; the same shall apply hereinafter) may collect DNA samples from a person against whom a sentence of criminal punishment, a probation order under Article 59-2 of the Criminal Act, a sentence of medical treatment and custody under the Medical Treatment and Custody Act, or a decision of protective detention under Article 32 (1) 9 or 10 of the Juvenile Act is, or has been, finally and conclusively affirmed for any of the following crimes or a crime concurrent to any of the following crimes (hereinafter referred to as "prisoner"): Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply where DNA identification information from DNA samples collected pursuant to Article 6 has been already stored: <Amended by Act No. 10258, Apr. 15, 2010; Act No. 11556, Dec. 18, 2012; Act No. 11731, Apr. 5, 2013; Act No. 12776, Oct. 15, 2014>
1. A crime under any provision of Articles 164, 165, 166 (1), 167 (1), and 174 (applicable only to an attempted crime under Article 164 (1), 165, or 166 (1)), among crimes of arson and fire caused by negligence in Part II, Chapter XIII of the Criminal Act;
2. A crime under any provision of Articles 250, 253, and 254 (excluding an attempted crime under Articles 251 and 252), among crimes of homicide in Part II, Chapter XXIV of the Criminal Act;
3. Among the crimes of kidnapping, abduction and trafficking provided for in Article 31 of PART II of the Criminal Act, a crime under Articles 287, 288 (excluding cases where a person commits a crime provided for in Article 288 (1) for the purpose of marriage), 289 (excluding cases where a person commits a crime provided for in Article 289 (2) for the purpose of marriage), 290, 291, 292 (excluding cases where a person takes or conceals another person who has been kidnapped, abducted or trafficked, committing a crime prescribed in Article 288 (1) for the purpose of marriage or a crime prescribed in Article 289 (2) for the purpose of marriage, as well as cases where a person recruits, transports, or delivers another person with the intention of committing a crime prescribed in Article 288 (1) for the purpose of marriage or a crime prescribed in Article 289 (2) for the purpose of marriage), and 294 (excluding attempts to commit a crime prescribed in Article 288 (1) for the purpose of marriage or a crime prescribed in Article 289 (2) for the purpose of marriage as well as attempts to commit the crime of taking or concealing another person who has been kidnapped, abducted or trafficked, committing a crime prescribed in Article 288 (1) for the purpose of marriage or a crime prescribed in Article 289 (2) for the purpose of marriage);
Article 6(Collection of DNA Samples from Detained Suspects, etc.) #
A public prosecutor or a judicial police officer (including a military judicial police officer; the same shall apply hereinafter) may collect DNA samples from a suspect detained for a crime under any subparagraph of Article 5 (1) or a crime concurrent to any of the aforesaid crimes or a person detained for medical treatment and custody pursuant to the Medical Treatment and Custody Act (hereinafter referred to as "detained suspect"): Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply where DNA identification information from DNA samples collected pursuant to Article 5 has been already stored.
Article 7(Collection of DNA Samples from Crime Scenes, etc.) #
(1) A public prosecutor or a judicial police officer may collect DNA samples from any of the following (hereinafter referred to as "crime scene"):
1. A thing discovered at a crime scene;
2. A thing discovered from the exterior or interior of the body of a victim of crime;
3. A thing discovered from an article that a victim of crime wore or carried at the time he/she was victimized;
4. A thing discovered from the exterior or interior of the body of, or an article possessed by, a person involved in perpetration of a crime, or at a place related to perpetration for a crime.
(2) DNA identification information acquired from DNA samples collected pursuant to paragraph (1) may be stored, only which has not revealed the identity thereof.
Article 8(Warrant to Collect DNA Samples) #
(1) A public prosecutor may collect DNA samples from a person subject to collection of DNA samples under Article 5 or 6, with a warrant issued by the competent district court judge (including a military judge; hereinafter the same shall apply) at the request of the public prosecutor.
(2) A judicial police officer may collect DNA samples from a person subject to collection of DNA samples under Article 6 with a warrant issued by the competent district court judge at the request of the public prosecutor with whom the judicial police officer files an application for the warrant.
(3) Where a person subject to collection of DNA samples under paragraph (1) or (2) consents to the collection, DNA samples may be collected without a warrant. In such cases, a notice that the person may refuse the collection shall be given in advance, and written consent thereto shall be obtained.
(4) A request for a warrant to collect DNA samples under paragraph (1) or (2) (hereinafter referred to as "warrant to collect DNA samples") shall be made in writing, describing the name and address of the person subject to the collection, reasons for the request, types of samples to be collected, the method and place of collection, etc., along with a written opinion on the collection of DNA samples stated by the person subject to the collection, and shall be accompanied by documents supporting the reasons for the request. In such cases, where it is impracticable to submit the written opinion on the collection of DNA samples stated by the person subject to the collection, documents supporting such reasons shall be included.
(5) Where the competent district court judge examines whether to issue a warrant to collect DNA samples, he/she shall give the person subject to the collection an opportunity to make a written statement of opinion: Provided, That where a written opinion on the collection of DNA samples stated by the person subject to the collection is submitted under paragraph (4), it shall be deemed that the opportunity to make a written statement of opinion is given.
(6) Each warrant to collect DNA samples shall contain the name and address of the person subject to the collection, types of samples to be collected, the method and place of collection, the effective period, and a statement that, where the effective period lapses, the warrant shall be unenforceable and thus shall be returned, and shall bear the signature and seal affixed by the competent district court judge.
(7) A warrant to collect DNA samples shall be executed by a judicial police officer under the competent public prosecutor's command: Provided, That a warrant to collect DNA samples of a person who is in the custody of a custody facility may be executed by a public official who works for the custody facility under the competent public prosecutor's command.
Article 8-2(Processes for Filing Objections) #
(1) Where a person whose DNA samples are collected under a warrant provided in Article 8 (1) or (2) wants to file an objection against the disposition of the collection of DNA samples, he/she may request for revocation of the disposition with the court having jurisdiction over the place of execution of such disposition or the court corresponding to the prosecutor's office to which a public prosecutor belongs, within seven days from the date the collection was made.
(2) A written request under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the competent court.
(3) Articles 409, 413, 414, and 415 of the Criminal Procedure Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the request under paragraph (1).
[This Article Newly Inserted by Act No. 16866, Jan. 21, 2020]
Article 9(Methods of Collecting DNA Samples) #
(1) Whenever DNA samples are collected pursuant to Article 5 or 6, a method shall be used in a manner that minimizes bodily harm or violation of dignity of the person subject to the collection, such as collecting samples from oral mucosa.
(2) Necessary matters concerning the methods of collection and management of DNA samples shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 10(Storage of DNA Identification Information, etc.) #
(1) The Prosecutor General or the Commissioner General of the Korean National Policy Agency may delegate or entrust a person or an agency specified by Presidential Decree (hereinafter referred to as "person in charge of DNA identification information") with the following works: <Amended by Act No. 16866, Jan. 21, 2020>
1. Identification of DNA samples collected pursuant to Articles 5 through 8 and Article 9, and storage of such DNA identification information in the database;
2. Management of the database.
(2) Necessary matters concerning delegation or entrustment to persons in charge of DNA identification, DNA identification works, and storage and management of DNA identification information shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 11(Search and Reply of DNA Identification Information) #
(1) The person in charge of DNA identification information may search DNA identification information or reply to an inquiry with the results of search in any of the following cases:
1. Where new DNA identification information is stored in the database;
2. Where a public prosecutor or a judicial police officer requests it for investigation of a crime or the identification of a person who died of unnatural cause;
3. Where a court (including military court; hereinafter the same shall apply) sends an inquiry of facts for a criminal case pending on trial;
4. Where it is necessary for mutual verification between databases.
(2) When the person in charge of DNA identification information sends a reply of results of a search of DNA identification information pursuant to paragraph (1), he/she shall clearly state purposes of use, the person who made the reply, the name of the person who inquired, and the date and time of making of the reply.
(3) Necessary matters concerning procedures for search of DNA identification information and reply of results thereof shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 12(Destruction of DNA Samples) #
(1) When the person in charge of DNA identification information completes storing DNA identification information in the database, he/she shall destroy DNA samples collected pursuant to Article 5 or 6 and DNA extracted from such samples without delay.
(2) Necessary matters concerning the method of, and procedure for, destruction of DNA samples and DNA extracted therefrom shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 13(Erasure of DNA Identification Information) #
(1) Where a judgment of acquittal, exoneration, or dismissal of public prosecution or a decision of dismissal of public prosecution is finally and conclusively affirmed for a prisoner in a retrial, the person in charge of DNA identification information shall, ex officio or at the prisoner's request, erase DNA identification information collected pursuant to Article 5 and stored in the database.
(2) Where any of the following events occurs to a detained suspect, the person in charge of DNA identification information shall, ex officio or at the suspect's request, erase DNA identification information collected pursuant to Article 6 and stored in the database:
1. Where the public prosecutor makes a disposition of "cleared of suspicion" "not guilty" or "not prosecutable" or where the name of a crime of the detained suspect allegedly perpetrated is changed from the name of a crime under any subparagraph of Article 5 (1) to the name of a crime not specified in any subparagraph of the aforesaid paragraph in the course of investigation or trial: Provided, That cases where the public prosecutor makes an independent demand for a disposition of medical treatment and custody pursuant to subparagraph 1 of Article 7 of the Medical Treatment and Custody Act, along with a disposition of "not guilty", shall be excluded herefrom;
2. Where a judgment of acquittal, exoneration, or dismissal of public prosecution by a court or a decision of dismissal of public prosecution is finally and conclusively affirmed: Provided, That cases where a sentence of medical treatment and custody is imposed along with a judgment of acquittal shall be excluded herefrom;
3. Where a judgment by a court of dismissal of an independent demand for a disposition of medical treatment and custody under subparagraph 1 of Article 7 of the Medical Treatment and Custody Act is finally and conclusively affirmed.
(3) Where a prisoner or a detained suspect requests for revocation of collection of DNA samples conducted by a public prosecutor or a judicial police officer pursuant to the procedures of filing objection under Article 8-2 and the judgment of the revocation is finally and conclusively affirmed, the person in charge of DNA identification information shall, ex officio or at the identified person's request, erase DNA identification information collected pursuant to Article 5 or 6 and stored in the database. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 16866, Jan. 21, 2020>
(4) Where a prisoner or a detained suspect is dead, the person in charge of DNA identification information shall, ex officio or at the request of any of the deceased's relatives, erase DNA identification information collected pursuant to Article 5 or 6 and stored in the database. <Amended by Act No. 16866, Jan. 21, 2020>
Article 14(Managing Committee of DNA Identification Information Database) #
(1) The Managing Committee of DNA Identification Information Database (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister in order to deliberate on the following matters regarding the management and operation of the database:
1. Mattes concerning the collection, transportation, storage, and destruction of DNA samples;
2. Matters concerning the method of, and procedure for, DNA identification and the standardization of identification technology;
3. Matters concerning the indication of DNA identification information and the storage and erasure of the database;
4. Other matters prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(2) The Committee shall be comprised of not less than seven, but not more than nine members, including one Chairperson.
(3) Committee members shall be commissioned by the Prime Minister from among the following persons, while the Chairperson shall be appointed by the Prime Minister from among committee members:
1. Grade-V or higher-ranking public officials (including public officials in general service, who are members of the Senior Executive Service) or persons who are, or have been, in an equivalent position in a public institution and who have experience in DNA-related work;
2. Persons who serve, or have served, as an adjunct or higher professor or in an equivalent position at the university or an officially recognized research institute and who have professional knowledge and ample experience in research on bioscience or medicine;
3. Other persons who have ample knowledge and experience in fields of ethics, social science, legal profession, or journalism.
(4) The term of office for each committee member shall be three years.
(5) If the Committee considers it necessary for deliberation on matters under subparagraphs of paragraph (1), it may request the Prosecutor General or the Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency to submit relevant data, and may require the person in charge of DNA identification information to attend the Committee's meetings to hear his/her opinion.
(6) The Committee may present its opinion after deliberation on matters falling under subparagraphs of paragraph (1) to the Prosecutor General or the Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency.
Article 15(Prohibition against Use for any Purpose Other than Performance of Duties, etc.) #
No person in charge of DNA identification information shall use DNA samples or DNA identification information acquired in the course of performance of his/her duties for any purpose, other than performance of his/her duties, nor shall he/she provide or divulge such samples or information to another person.
Article 16(Legal Fiction as Public Officials for Application of Penalty Provisions) #
A person in charge of DNA identification information who is not a public official shall be deemed a public official for the purpose of applying penalty provisions of the Criminal Act or any other Act to him/her.
Article 17(Penalty Provisions) #
(1) A person who falsifies or alters DNA identification information shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than seven years, or by a fine not exceeding 20 million won.
(2) A person who destroys, conceals, damages, or otherwise degrades the utility of, DNA samples collected pursuant to this Act shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years, or by a fine not exceeding seven million won.
(3) A person who uses DNA samples or DNA identification information for any purpose, other than performance of his/her duties, in violation of Article 15, or provides or divulges such samples or information to another person shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than three years, or by suspension of qualification for not more than five years.
(4) A person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than two years, or by a fine not exceeding five million won:
1. A person who inspects or acquires DNA identification information by fraud or other improper means;
2. A person who uses DNA identification information replied pursuant to Article 11 for any purpose, other than performance of his/her duties, or who provides or divulges such information to another person.
(5) A person in charge of DNA identification information shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than one year, or by suspension of qualification for not more than three years, where he/she fails to destroy DNA samples and DNA extracted therefrom or fails to erase DNA identification information, in violation of Article 12 or 13 without a justifiable ground. <Amended by Act No. 12186, Jan. 7, 2014>