Uijeongbu Mayor: "Kim Geun-sik's Transfer from Uijeongbu Will Be Prevented... All Administrative Measures Will Be Utilized"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Regarding the news that minor sex offender Kim Geun-sik, who is about to be released from prison, is expected to reside in Uijeongbu City, Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun announced on the 15th, "We will use all administrative measures to prevent the transfer of the heinous sex offender Kim Geun-sik to Uijeongbu."

Mayor Kim convened the heads of national and local offices this morning for the 4th emergency countermeasure meeting and posted this information on his social media (SNS).

Mayor Kim explained, "Starting today, I have ordered all department employees to be on emergency standby," adding, "We will proactively respond considering all possible situations that may arise."

An emergency press conference by parent and citizen groups regarding concerns over the release of minor sexual offender Kim Geun-sik is being held on the 13th in front of the main gate of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

He also stated, "We will close the roads near the Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch, where the Ministry of Justice is pushing for Kim Geun-sik's admission," emphasizing, "We will prevent any vehicle carrying Kim Geun-sik from entering to protect the safety of citizens."

He continued, "We will join forces with the citizens of Uijeongbu to definitely revoke the Ministry of Justice's unilateral decision to admit child sex offender Kim Geun-sik to Uijeongbu. We will show this through our actions."

After the emergency countermeasure meeting, starting from 10 a.m., Mayor Kim, along with People Power Party lawmakers Choi Young-hee, Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Min-chul and Oh Young-hwan, Uijeongbu City Council Chairperson Choi Jeong-hee, city and provincial council members, inspected the Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch and nearby child-related facilities. Furthermore, he announced that from 1:30 p.m. on the same day, a "field mayor's office" will be operated in front of the Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch until the Ministry of Justice withdraws its plan to transfer Kim Geun-sik to Uijeongbu.

Kim Geun-sik was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting 11 minors in the metropolitan area from May to September 2006 and is scheduled to be released on the 17th. As it became known that Kim Geun-sik would reside in Uijeongbu after his release, strong opposition has erupted among Uijeongbu City and its residents.