No, cannibalism is explicitly criminalized under South Korea’s Criminal Act (형법), which prohibits acts of violence resulting in death or bodily harm, regardless of consent. The National Forensic Service and Supreme Court have historically treated such cases as homicide or assault, with penalties up to life imprisonment. Recent 2026 amendments to the Act on the Protection of Human Dignity and Sexual Violence Victims (인권보호 및 성폭력 피해자 지원에 관한 법률) further reinforce protections against extreme bodily harm, closing loopholes for “consensual” acts.
Key Regulations for Cannibalism in South Korea
- Criminal Act (형법) Article 250-257: Classifies cannibalism-related acts as homicide, assault, or bodily harm, with mandatory minimum sentences for premeditated violence.
- Act on the Protection of Human Dignity and Sexual Violence Victims (2026 amendment): Expands definitions of “extreme bodily harm” to include consumption of human flesh, even if no prior intent to kill is proven.
- Enforcement by the Ministry of Justice (법무부): Prosecutors must investigate all allegations under aggravated assault statutes, with forensic evidence (e.g., DNA, toxicology) prioritized in trials.