Skorea police propose decriminalising secret dancing lessons

SEOUL - South Koreans who wish to display snakes in public or take dancing lessons in private may soon do so without fear of breaking the law.

The two misdemeanours are among those police have listed for decriminalisation in a revision of the South Korea’s Minor Offences Law, as part of President Lee Myung-Bak’s reform drive.

Offences such as private dance lessons, public snake shows and not keeping one’s chimney clean will no longer be punishable with fines of up to 100,000 won (73 dollars) if the proposals are adopted.

However, the revision, as proposed in a report to the prime minister’s office, may add at least one offence to the law, police said Tuesday.

“The revised Minor Offences Law will forbid the act of harassing a person with persistent phone calls, emails or letters, even if the victim is not physically threatened or has not been assaulted by the stalker,” a police official told Yonhap news agency.

- Sapa-AFP