[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Jo Doo-soon (68), a child sex offender, has expressed his intention to return to Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, where he committed his crime after his release. On the 23rd, Shin Euijin, president of the Korea Violence and Abuse Prevention Association, said, "The help of the public is needed" for the victim's family.
On the same day, Shin appeared on YTN's 'Start New Morning' and said, "In December, Jo Doo-soon will come back to Ansan, and Jo Doo-soon's house and the victim's house are really only about 1 km apart. When he comes out again, I was worried about how the child would be as the pain and trauma the family would experience would be reformed. Just yesterday, the victim's father said, 'If only I had money, I would give them the rent deposit to send them away.' Hearing that, I thought this is a big problem," he said.
He added, "(The victim's family) is going through tremendous pain," and explained, "The victim had to undergo the terrible surgery to remove the colostomy bag twice. The cost was actually raised through fundraising by the public. The government did not support it at that time. Due to regulations that do not allow support over 3 million won, it was not possible, and this time, in a way, it seems like only time has passed. So, like then, I think we all have no choice but to roll up our sleeves, and I thought the help of the public is needed this time as well."
Regarding the condition of the victim child at the time of the 'Jo Doo-soon case,' Shin said, "The child was wearing a colostomy bag and was very distressed. The child thought, 'What is the point of living like this?' and refused all food at that time," adding, "Although the child was much smaller than peers, the child did not eat at all, and the stomach became sunken. Even now, when I recall that, as a mother, it pains my heart."
He continued, "I still cannot forget the face full of fear and despair of the victim's father, who was running around handling the matter after that incident," he added.
Regarding the possibility of Jo Doo-soon's reoffending, Shin said, "Jo Doo-soon seems to be the type of person whose reason is almost paralyzed when he drinks," and added, "It is hard to predict recklessly whether he will commit a crime again or not. But from the family's perspective, they would certainly experience tremendous fear."
He continued, "I helped the victim and observed the trial process at the time. Jo Doo-soon glared at the victim's family and insisted until the end that he was right without any sign of remorse," and said, "A person cannot do that. I do not know how much he has changed over time, and I think the possibility of control is low."
Meanwhile, Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old child on the way to school in Ansan City in December 2008, causing permanent disability. Jo Doo-soon is scheduled to be released after serving his full sentence on December 13.
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