After Jo Doo-sun's Release... From a Chaotic Neighborhood to a Quiet Daily Life

Jodusun Released for 6 Months... Neighborhood Returns to Calm

Experienced Officers Withdrawn from in Front of House, Minimal Staff Patrol Regularly
Residents "Time Has Passed, So We Live Forgetting"
YouTubers Who Visited Day and Night Also Not Seen
Ministry of Justice "Jodusun Went Out Once Since Release... Average 120 Supervisions per Month"

[Asia Economy (Ansan) = Reporter Song Seung-yoon] "Now that the police come and go frequently, we just live forgetting about it."

On the afternoon of the 6th, A-dong in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province, was as quiet and peaceful as any other neighborhood. In the alleys densely packed with villas, only a few residents enjoying a walk were occasionally seen. This place was where residents' complaints of "We absolutely cannot live here" poured out until December last year. This is because Jo Doo-soon, an elementary school student kidnapper and sexual assault offender, moved in after his release. However, when visiting this neighborhood about five months later, the atmosphere was peaceful as if nothing had happened.

Right after Jo Doo-soon's release, YouTubers and citizens flocked to the neighborhood at all hours. Some shouted loudly all night or trespassed into houses without permission. Residents suffered anxiety due to the constant visitors day and night and even submitted petitions to the police to block outsiders' access.

The police once deployed about 100 officers around Jo Doo-soon's residence and controlled the scene, but now, as YouTubers and others no longer visit the neighborhood, only minimal personnel remain. Two police officers are stationed at the guard post right in front of Jo Doo-soon's house. Including patrol personnel, 15 officers work in shifts during the day and 11 at night to patrol the neighborhood. On this day as well, police officers were frequently seen throughout the quiet neighborhood. They were even seen more often than the residents during patrols.

The residents have now regained the peaceful daily life they had before he came. Resident Ji Mo (58, female) said, "Police are stationed throughout the neighborhood, and since nothing unusual has happened so far, most residents feel at ease," adding, "YouTubers and suspicious people no longer come around." Some still have worried eyes. Resident Kim Mo (26, female) said, "Sometimes I think that Jo Doo-soon might take advantage of the reduced attention to go outside or cause another incident."

Some residents have also left the neighborhood. Real estate agent A, who operates nearby, said, "Those who wanted to move already left early on, and now there are hardly any inquiries about buying or selling," adding, "As time passes, everyone seems to forget and live on."

It has been confirmed that Jo Doo-soon has gone out only once since his release. The Ministry of Justice revealed this on the 3rd and added that once COVID-19 calms down, they plan to conduct psychological treatment programs for him, including alcohol treatment and sex awareness improvement. They also explained that a one-on-one probation officer system is in place, with one probation officer exclusively in charge of Jo Doo-soon, conducting 20 face-to-face guidance sessions, 100 behavior observations, and 4 weekly life plan checks, totaling about 120 supervisions per month.