The government said Friday it would disclose the location of sex offenders to the public in real-time and dismiss officials convicted of committing even minor sex crimes.

The Cabinet approved a set of measures to tighten monitoring, toughen punishment and broaden preventive education during a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Chung Hong-won.

“These are comprehensive, preemptive and pan-governmental measures devised to crack down on sexual crimes and enhance public security. The government will focus on strengthening the response system and punishment, and expanding the development of preventive educational programs,” said Gender Minister Cho Yoon-sun after the meeting.

The Park Geun-hye government has faced public outrage after a sexual abuse scandal involving ex-presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung. While accompanying President Park on her U.S. visit last month, he allegedly sexually assaulted a Korean-American intern who was hired to help the Seoul delegation in Washington.

To prevent sex crimes in the public sector, the government announced a “zero tolerance” policy for officials implicated in sex-related crimes. Regardless of the degree of the crime, officials could face dismissal if they are found to have committed it with intent, and not on impulse.

Currently, the government only dismisses officials who commit sex crimes against minors aged 16 and under.

Government offices, agencies and state-run firms will be also obliged to hold more than three hours of lectures on sexual crimes a year, from the current one hour. Sex-related crimes refer to prostitution, sexual harassment and assault.

Starting in the second half of the year, the government will allow the public to track the location and movements of sexual offenders ordered by the court to wear a GPS ankle bracelet. Through an electronic map application operated by the police, users could browse the personal information and the criminal history of sexual predators located nearby, officials said.

The police also plan to establish a communication platform that transmits audio crime reports and updates the criminal records of newly listed sexual offenders for officers stationed across the country.

New GPS devices for sex offenders will be developed which would send warning signals to authorities if they enter areas out of their usual movement patterns.

The minimum court sentence for those convicted of sex crimes against a child will be raised from five to seven years to prevent offenders from being released on a suspended sentence.

To expand support to victims, the government plans to build more shelters and double medical support. By 2016, text books on gender equality and human rights for elementary, middle school and high school students will be developed and distributed. The government also plans to install more than 10,000 surveillance cameras around the country.

By  Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)