"Don't Even Mention Jodusun" Ansan Citizens' Anger Over the 'Jodusun Incident' Remains [Report]

Jodusun's Release Imminent on December 13... Hopes to Reside in Ansan
Citizens of Ansan Say "Unbelievable," "Horrible Memories," Express Outrage
Mayor of Ansan Prepares Response Including Legislative Request for Protective Custody Law
Experts Say "Citizens' Anxiety Is Natural... Doubts About Jodusun's 'Remorse'"

Citizens shopping at the multicultural street in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Residents met around Ansan Station on the afternoon of the 14th expressed strong displeasure about Jo Doo-soon's release, saying, "Don't even mention it." Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Ansan=Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Don't even mention Jo Doo-soon, it makes my stomach turn." "Is he really coming to Ansan?"

On the afternoon of the 14th, a woman in her 50s met in front of OO-dong in Ansan said about Jo Doo-soon, who is about to be released, "It was such a horrific incident," and kept her words short. Another office worker in her 40s expressed, "Jo Doo-soon says he wants to come to Ansan, but it makes me uncomfortable."

Jo Doo-soon (68), a child sex offender, reportedly told counselors at the Ansan Probation Office during a meeting in July, "I regret my crime. When I am released, I will return to Ansan where I originally lived and live without causing trouble." As news spread that Jo Doo-soon wants to return to Ansan, citizens of Ansan could not hide their confusion and anger.

On that day, citizens met around Ansan Station and nearby OO-dong unanimously expressed discomfort toward Jo Doo-soon. It was an outburst that could be seen as trauma from the 'Jo Doo-soon incident.'

A man in his 60s who said he has been running a small business near the station for over ten years said, "When Jo Doo-soon committed that terrible act, the neighborhood was in chaos," and added, "Even now, if you mention Jo Doo-soon, it makes my stomach turn." He raised his voice, "That bastard wants to come back to Ansan, but not a single person here agrees."

Citizens met in the multicultural street near Ansan Station also expressed their outrage in unison about Jo Doo-soon coming to Ansan.

A merchant in his 40s said, "I learned from the news, but considering the victim, he shouldn't come here," and added, "Not only the victim but also the people here feel the same. Jo Doo-soon is a bad guy to the end. He only thinks about himself," expressing his anger.

Park, a taxi driver in his 50s met at an intersection, also said bluntly, "Is it really possible for him to come to Ansan? It doesn't make sense logically." He pointed out, "Isn't it coming back to the place where the crime was committed? How can that be?" He criticized, "I heard he says he regrets his crime, but who would believe that?"

Jo Doo-soon was tried on charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an elementary school student in front of a church in Danwon-gu in December 2008, causing serious injuries.

The victim child barely survived with severe aftereffects. Because of this, parents and middle-aged citizens met near elementary schools could not hide their anxiety upon hearing the news that Jo Doo-soon might come back to Ansan. Although Jo Doo-soon cannot directly commit a crime again, just the fact that he is in the same area caused discomfort and confusion.

Citizens met in front of an elementary school shuddered at the mention of Jo Doo-soon. A woman in her 40s met in front of a mart said, "Just mentioning Jo Doo-soon's name makes me feel bad," and added, "Especially on this path where children often pass, recalling the past incident gives me goosebumps." She pointed out, "Even if he is under police supervision, Jo Doo-soon can pass through here, right? Then he would see elementary school students with his own eyes," and said, "That's the problem. That itself is another crime."

CCTV in an alley of a residential area in Ansan OO-dong. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Upon hearing the news that Jo Doo-soon might come to Ansan, citizens looking for houses prioritized security, showing awareness of Jo Doo-soon even in housing transactions.

Park, a real estate agent in his 40s working in OO-dong, explained, "Recently, as news spread that Jo Doo-soon might come to Ansan, there have been many inquiries about security and safety among clients looking to buy or sell houses," and added, "They ask a lot about how many CCTVs are around the house and whether the alleys are secluded."

As the anxiety of Ansan citizens grows, the police have stepped up patrols to minimize residents' discomfort. A police official explained, "We are focusing on checking emergency bells and closed-circuit (CC) TVs, and although there are 'school-dedicated police officers' for elementary school patrols, we are additionally patrolling inside the schools and nearby areas."

The citizens' anxiety has also led to concerns that some might respond realistically by leaving the area. On the 15th, Ansan Mayor Yoon Hwa-seop said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "We received 3,600 calls saying, 'If Jo Doo-soon comes, I will leave Ansan. How can I live feeling so unsafe?'"

He added, "On the Facebook page 'Ansan News,' there are about 3,800 posts showing many citizens are anxious and demanding measures," and explained, "When calls come in, the civil complaint call center receives many questions like 'Where is Jo Doo-soon's house?' and 'Where are the security CCTVs installed?'"

He emphasized, "What the victim and our citizens worry about is whether we can prevent Jo Doo-soon from committing another crime. The fact that Jo Doo-soon lives where the victim resides is itself terrifying."

On the afternoon of March 16, 2010, Jo Doo-soon, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, is seen on the CCTV screen at the security department of Cheongsong Prison in Gyeongbuk.

Earlier, Mayor Yoon sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice requesting legislation for the Protective Custody Act. The Protective Custody Act aims to isolate and detain heinous criminals such as child sex offenders, habitual sex offenders, and serial killers in separate facilities for a certain period even after their sentence ends.

Mayor Yoon said, "It is a fact known to all our people that he received a lighter sentence than the crime he committed," and added, "Ansan City submits the opinion that the enactment of the Protective Custody Act, which the Ministry of Justice announced for legislation on September 3, 2014, is even more urgently needed at this point."

He continued, "Ansan City judges that there is no practical way to control this other than creating a bill to introduce the protective custody system before Jo Doo-soon's release," and emphasized, "I believe that the great anxiety many citizens are experiencing can be largely resolved depending on the minister's will."

Meanwhile, experts analyzed that just the fact that Jo Doo-soon might come to Ansan can increase residents' anxiety.

Oh Yoon-sung, a professor of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, "Didn't Jo Doo-soon show an attitude of not reflecting, like saying 'I will build my body' in prison? Citizens probably cannot trust him even if he says he regrets it for these reasons," and emphasized, "The government says it will manage Jo Doo-soon thoroughly, but there is inevitably anxiety about the possibility of unforeseen crimes."