2005 saw an 8.3 percent decline in the number of people age 14 to 19 identified as suspects in murders, robberies and other Penal Code offenses from a year earlier to 123,715, the National Police Agency said Thursday.

The figure marked the second straight year of decline.

Of the total, 28.7 percent, or 35,509, had a history of having been held or questioned by police as suspects in previous offenses.

The percentage is the ninth-highest since the agency started conducting surveys in the current form in 1972. The highest was 31.3 percent in 1984.

It has been rising since it hit bottom at 21.1 percent in 1997, the agency said.

The figure does not necessarily represent the number of those who were penalized after having been found guilty of the alleged offenses, an NPA official said.

Suspects age 13 or younger cannot be held criminally liable under the Penal Code and are exempt from conventional police investigation methods and instead subject to provisions of the Child Welfare Law.

According to the NPA, the number of juveniles who were held as suspects of murder, robbery and other serious crimes decreased 9 percent to 1,441, and that of theft suspects declined 7.2 percent to 71,147.

But the percentage of repeat offenders among those previously held as suspects in serious crimes, including murder and robbery, in the past year came to 61 percent, followed by 52.6 percent for those suspected of committing violent crimes, including assault, and extortion.

An NPA official said, "No optimism is warranted because horrific crimes by minors continue to occur," although the number of juvenile suspects decreased.

"It is necessary to boost aid for rehabilitating and correction programs for delinquent minors," the official added.