A 'Repeat Offender with 35 Convictions' Cut Off Electronic Ankle Bracelet in Suncheon and Fled to Jinju... Police in Pursuit
Repeated Damage to Electronic Ankle Bracelets... Effectiveness Controversy
Expert Warns "Beware of Arguments Claiming Electronic Ankle Bracelets Are Useless"
The Changwon Probation Office of the Ministry of Justice announced on the 27th that it has issued a public warrant for Kim (62), who recently damaged an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) and fled. Photo by Changwon Probation Office.
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Controversy has erupted over the effectiveness of electronic monitoring devices (electronic anklets) after a sex offender with 35 prior convictions, including the sexual assault of minors, cut off his electronic anklet and fled.
This year alone, more than 10 offenders have damaged their electronic anklets, and incidents of committing crimes while wearing the device continue, raising concerns about the limitations of crime prevention. Amid this situation, citizens are expressing anxiety and urging improvements to the electronic anklet system.
Recently, Kim (62), a sex offender with 35 prior convictions including sexual assault of minors, caused a stir after damaging his electronic anklet and fleeing in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do.
According to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency on the 28th, Kim boarded the Mugunghwa train in Beolgyo, Jeollanam-do on the 27th and got off at Banseong Station in Jinju, Gyeongnam. The police did not disclose his route after Banseong Station to avoid difficulties in tracking once the escape route was made public.
Earlier, on the 25th between 10 and 11 p.m., Kim traveled from Goryeong, Gyeongbuk to Suncheon, Jeollanam-do using his own vehicle. Although he was under a nighttime outing restriction order, he ignored it and damaged his electronic anklet around 2:55 a.m. on the 26th before disappearing.
Kang Yoon-seong, accused of killing two women before and after damaging his electronic ankle bracelet, is being transferred at the Songpa Police Station in Seoul last September. [Image source=Yonhap News]
This is not the first case of an offender damaging an electronic anklet and fleeing. According to the Ministry of Justice, since the electronic anklet system was first implemented in 2008, cases of damage have been reported every year without exception.
Starting with 1 person in 2008, the numbers were 5 in 2009, 10 in 2010, 12 in 2011, 12 in 2012, 6 in 2013, 9 in 2014, 11 in 2015, 18 in 2016, 11 in 2017, 23 in 2018, 21 in 2019, and 13 in 2020. This year, as of August, the number of offenders who damaged their anklets has already reached 13.
The problem is that offenders who damage their electronic anklets and flee may commit other crimes. The electronic anklet only allows location tracking and fundamentally cannot monitor what actions the wearer is taking.
Previously, Kang Yoonseong (56), who had a history of sex crimes, sparked public outrage after killing two women in Songpa-gu, Seoul, around the time he cut off his electronic anklet in August. Kang was first sentenced to prison for special theft at age 17 and had a total of 14 convictions including two sex crimes, robbery, rape, and assault.
Given this situation, citizens are expressing their anxiety. Kim, a company employee in his 20s, said, "I think electronic anklets should not be so easily damaged. Also, damaging the anklet itself means intending to commit a crime. Especially this time, a person with 35 prior convictions escaped. I am afraid of what crimes he might commit next."
Meanwhile, there are offenders who commit crimes while wearing electronic anklets, which is also problematic. On the afternoon of the 27th in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, a man in his 30s wearing an electronic anklet, identified as A, was caught by police as a suspect after fleeing following the molestation of a female middle school student. A is accused of forcibly hugging the girl from behind and touching her body.
A, who has a brain lesion disability, stated during police investigation that "it was a momentary impulse." It is known that A had previously been ordered to wear an electronic anklet due to a prior charge of forcible molestation.
As incidents related to electronic anklets continue, the Ministry of Justice announced related measures last month. First, the Ministry plans to strengthen cooperation with the police and prosecution to establish a rapid arrest system. Previously, only damage reports were transmitted to the 112 emergency call center when incidents occurred, but from now on, personal information of the subject will also be provided.
Additionally, the Ministry plans to expand rapid processing of various warrant requests, communication data inquiries for early arrests, and specialized training for special judicial police officers.
An expert warned against dismissing the effectiveness of electronic anklets. Oh Yoonseong, a professor of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, "Many offenders are wearing electronic anklets, and it is a generalization fallacy to say the system is ineffective just because a small number cause problems. Since electronic anklets definitely have a crime prevention effect, it is inappropriate to question their effectiveness."
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