Child Grooming as Sexual Violence in Indonesia

Child grooming is a manipulative process intended to sexually exploit victims, often conducted gradually and covertly. This phenomenon has gained global attention following alleged cases involving public figures, such as Kim Soo-hyun, which sparked discussions on legal protection for sexual violence victims. Although the term “child grooming” is not explicitly regulated in Indonesian law, such acts can be examined under Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS), which emphasizes victim protection, and, where relevant, the new Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP Baru) in the context of sexual offenses. This study employs a normative-juridical method with statutory and conceptual approaches to analyze legal regulation of child grooming. The findings indicate that while UU TPKS provides a legal framework for victim protection, the regulation of child grooming as a form of sexual violence remains implicit, highlighting the need for normative clarification. The study underscores the urgency of harmonizing legislation to ensure child grooming can be identified and addressed legally before resulting in sexual violence, thereby strengthening legal protection for victims. These findings are expected to contribute academically to the development of criminal law concerning children and sexual offenses in Indonesia. Keywords: Child Grooming, Sexual Violence, UU TPKS.