"‘We Are All Victims’ - 37,000 People Support Petition for Enacting Jodusun Isolation Law"

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Page Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] A Blue House petition calling for the enactment of the so-called 'Jo Doo-soon Isolation Act,' which would require child sex offenders and others to remain isolated from society and be subject to management and supervision in protective custody facilities even after their release, has received over 37,000 signatures as of 9 a.m. on the 24th.

The petition was posted on the 23rd by Ansan Mayor Yoon Hwa-seop, who stated, "On behalf of the citizens of Ansan, I petition for the enactment of the 'Protective Custody Act,'" and explained the background of the bill by saying, "The law can be enacted to exclude controversies over double punishment and human rights violations. The protective custody system targeting child sex offenders, habitual sex offenders, and serial killers aims to protect law-abiding citizens and prevent crime through different purposes, facilities, and treatments than prisons."

In the petition, Mayor Yoon argued, "It is distinctly different from punitive security measures as it allows for normal social life. Since the focus is not on punishment but on preventing recidivism and social reintegration of the offender, it is a 'non-punitive security measure.'"

He continued, "By establishing legal provisions that determine the application criteria of the protective custody system based on the offender's reintegration into society rather than the criminal act itself, controversies over retroactive application of the law can also be excluded," and appealed, "We are all victims of Jo Doo-soon. I earnestly ask you to join this petition."

The Protective Custody Act was announced for legislation by the Ministry of Justice on September 3, 2014, but was never enacted. Jo Doo-soon, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the kidnapping and sexual assault of an elementary school student and is currently serving his sentence, is scheduled to be released on December 13.