[Incident Notebook] Jo Doo-soon·Park Byung-hwa ... Solutions to Ease the Suffering of Neighbors of Sex Offenders

Jodusun, Recently Tried to Move to Seonbudong but Canceled Due to Strong Resident Opposition
Park Byunghwa, Who Sexually Assaulted 10 Women in Their 20s... Hwaseong Citizens Hold Rally Urging Eviction
Expert: "Sentencing System for Sex Offenders Needs to Be Reexamined"

More than 60 people, including the Ansan City Women's Association and residents of Seonbu-dong, held a press conference in front of the entrance of Ansan City Hall on the 24th, demanding "Jo Doo-soon leave Ansan." Participants are holding placards and shouting slogans. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Child sex offender Jo Doo-soon gave up moving due to strong opposition from neighbors around him. Not only Jo Doo-soon but also the recent release of sex offenders has increased anxiety among local residents in areas known to be their residences. However, there are no proper measures, and social conflicts are escalating.

According to Ansan City on the 24th, Jo Doo-soon's side received a refund of 10 million won as a deposit and 1 million won as a penalty from the landlord of a multi-family house in Seonbu-dong where he was planning to move. His wife tried to deceive the landlord by saying Jo Doo-soon was a 'company employee' when signing the contract, but the contract was canceled after Jo Doo-soon's identity was revealed.

Prior to this, nearby residents who heard the news strongly demanded the cancellation of the contract by blocking the stair entrance of the multi-family house contracted by the Jo couple with iron bars. They also completely blocked the entrance of the house using a 1-ton cargo truck loaded with belongings. As a result, Jo Doo-soon gave up his plan to move to Seonbu-dong and is expected to stay at his current residence in Wadong for the time being. Earlier this month, Jo Doo-soon had also signed contracts in nearby Wongok-dong and Gojan-dong, but the contracts were repeatedly canceled after his identity became known.

The problem is that, as in the case of Jo Doo-soon, conflicts over the residences of so-called sex offenders may continue to occur. On the 23rd, the 'Park Byung-hwa Hwaseong Expulsion Citizens Emergency Countermeasure Committee,' composed of Hwaseong citizens, held a large rally with about 500 participants in front of the one-room where Park Byung-hwa resides, demanding voluntary eviction. The committee said, "Hwaseong citizens want a peaceful and ordinary life," and "We declare a literal 'war' until Park Byung-hwa leaves." They added, "We will continue to fight until children and students find peace," and urged, "The Ministry of Justice should introduce a system to detain high-risk serial sex offenders and revise laws to restrict their residences."

Citizens of Hwaseong are holding a protest demanding eviction in front of the one-room apartment where Park Byunghwa resides. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Byung-hwa was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting ten women in their 20s by breaking into villas in Gwonseon-gu and Yeongtong-gu, Suwon City, from December 2002 to October 2007. He was sentenced to 15 years and was released last month after serving his full term. After release, he moved into a one-room near a university in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, and has remained reclusive since. Hwaseong citizens have held daily rallies demanding his eviction since he moved into the one-room on the 31st of last month.

Meanwhile, serial minor sex offender Kim Geun-sik was re-arrested a day before his release for crimes committed 16 years ago. Previously, Uijeongbu citizens strongly opposed Kim Geun-sik’s admission to a rehabilitation facility within a 2 km radius where seven elementary, middle, and high schools are located. Kim Geun-sik, currently imprisoned in Anyang Prison, will be tried while in custody. His first trial date is scheduled for December 2.

On the other hand, there are cases where sex offenders have been released but their whereabouts are completely unknown. A 49-year-old man surnamed Lee, who committed sex crimes against minors in the Cheongju area, was released earlier this year after serving his full term. Lee was sentenced to 15 years for committing sex crimes seven times over six months in 2006. Among his crimes, six involved minors, including a 7-year-old girl. However, no personal information about Lee can be found on the 'Sex Offender Notification e' website. At the time Lee committed the crimes, only repeat offenders’ information was disclosed, and the law requiring disclosure of first-time offenders’ information was enacted in February 2008.

Due to such issues, a bill to disclose the personal information of all sex offenders against children and adolescents after July 2000, regardless of the number of offenses, was proposed in the National Assembly two years ago but is still pending. Although anxiety among local residents is growing due to the successive release of sex offenders, there is criticism that there are no effective countermeasures.

In related matters, other countries prohibit sex offenders from residing in certain areas, but there are no such regulations in Korea. The current Act on the Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Offenses only requires posting sex offenders’ personal information, including their residence, on the 'Sex Offender Notification e' website and notifying residents and schools in areas where children and youth live by mail.

In the United States, under the so-called 'Jessica Lunsford Act,' released child sex offenders are required to wear electronic monitoring devices for life. Additionally, residency restrictions within 1,000 feet (about 305 meters) from schools and other facilities are applied to prevent recidivism and ensure community safety.

In Jo Doo-soon's case, 10 additional security closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) have been installed around his house, and his movements are monitored 24 hours a day, sharing information with the Ministry of Justice and the police. Because of this, a bill has been proposed in the National Assembly that would, in principle, prohibit child sex offenders from residing near schools or child protection facilities if they wish to live in rehabilitation facilities after release.

Experts suggest reviewing the sentencing system for sex offenders as a more fundamental solution. Professor Oh Yoon-sung of Soonchunhyang University (Department of Police Administration) pointed out, "In foreign countries, persistent and habitual sex offenders receive sentences of 40 or 50 years. Park Byung-hwa is 39 years old this year." He added, "Ultimately, under the current sentencing conditions, offenders are imprisoned for about 10 years and then released, inevitably causing social conflicts," and emphasized, "It is necessary to examine the sentencing system for a fundamental solution."