Gyeonggi-do and Suwon City "Absolutely Oppose Sex Offenders Living in Our Area"

‘Suwon Balbari’ Park Byeonghwa, Scheduled for Release on the 31st, May Reside in Suwon City Facility
Suwon Citizens Hold Protest Rally on the 30th … “Protest Until System Improvement is Achieved”

Gyeonggi Province and Suwon City have strongly opposed the residence of sex offenders within the region ahead of the release of 'Suwon Balbari' Park Byunghwa. The photo shows Suwon Mayor Lee Jaejun and local members of the National Assembly visiting the Ministry of Justice to protest on the 28th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As the release of serial rapist Park Byunghwa (40), known as the "Suwon Balbari," approaches, Gyeonggi Province and Suwon City have strongly opposed the residence of sex offenders within the region.

Park Byunghwa was sentenced to 15 years in prison for breaking into villas in the Gwonseon-gu and Yeongtong-gu areas of Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, and raping ten women in their 20s from December 2002 to October 2007. He is currently serving his sentence at Chungju Prison and is scheduled to be released on the 31st. Although his residence after release has not yet been decided, it is known that he is likely to reside in a Ministry of Justice-affiliated facility in Suwon City, considering that he previously lived in Suwon.

In response, Suwon City took immediate action. On the 28th, Mayor Lee Jaejun of Suwon City, along with four local members of the National Assembly, visited the Ministry of Justice to deliver a "Petition Opposing the Residence of the Serial Rapist in Suwon" and held a sign protest in front of the Ministry of Justice rejecting the serial rapist’s residence in Suwon.

Mayor Lee and the lawmakers emphasized, "As the serial rapist’s release approaches, Suwon citizens are extremely anxious," adding, "Without any measures to prevent recidivism, the serial rapist must not be allowed to enter the residential community." Additionally, Mayor Lee pointed out in the petition, "Currently, local governments have neither the means nor the method to participate in the 'Review Committee on Probation Office Affairs,' which decides where released offenders will reside," and criticized this as "a regression of local autonomy and a disregard for citizens."

Meanwhile, the Suwon City Residents’ Autonomy Committee will hold a rally condemning the release of the serial rapist at 3 p.m. on the 30th at Olympic Park across from Suwon City Hall. The rally will be attended by members of residents’ organizations such as the Residents’ Autonomy Committee and the Neighborhood Association, citizens, as well as the Mayor of Suwon, members of the National Assembly, and city and provincial councilors.

Gyeonggi Province also issued a statement on the 29th, declaring, "We strongly oppose the residence of sex offenders within Gyeonggi Province." The statement noted, "There are legal limitations in Gyeonggi Province’s response to sex offenders entering rehabilitation protection facilities within the region after release," and formally requested the Ministry of Justice to comprehensively improve the current probation system, which leaves citizens anxious every time a sex offender is released. Prior to this, on the 26th, Gyeonggi Province officially petitioned the Ministry of Justice to establish standards restricting sex offenders from entering rehabilitation protection facilities near schools and child-related facilities.

Gyeonggi Province took this stance as the admission of serial rapist Kim Geunsik, a minor offender who was scheduled to enter a facility in Uijeongbu City, and Park Byunghwa into protection facilities within the province became likely. Initially, Kim Geunsik was scheduled to reside at the Korea Legal Protection Welfare Corporation’s Gyeonggi Northern Branch facility in Uijeongbu City after his release on the 17th, which sparked strong opposition from Uijeongbu City and its citizens. Uijeongbu City operated an on-site mayor’s office at the Korea Legal Protection Welfare Corporation’s Gyeonggi Northern Branch facility, held relay one-person protests, and issued an emergency administrative order blocking road access on Kim Geunsik’s transfer route, employing various measures to prevent his residence in the city. However, Kim Geunsik was re-arrested a day before his release for a past crime, resolving the situation.

Suwon City’s position is no different from that of Uijeongbu City. Suwon City stated, "We will use all possible means to fight until the serial rapist cannot reside in Suwon," and "We will continue to protest until institutional improvements are made."