"Sexual Assault Offender Park Byunghwa, Vacate Now" Landlord Initiates Eviction Lawsuit

The lawsuit filed by the building owner demanding the eviction of serial rapist Park Byunghwa (40) began on the 16th.

In November last year, Jeong Myeong-geun, the mayor of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, along with parents and residents of nearby schools, held a press conference demanding the eviction of serial rapist Park Byeong-hwa, known as the "Suwon Balbari," from a one-room apartment in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where Park resided.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the first hearing of the 'Building Delivery Claim' lawsuit held on the same day under the presiding of Judge Kim Jinman of the Suwon District Court Civil Division 7, the building owner A's attorney argued, "Police are still stationed around the building, and residents are expressing anxiety," adding, "For these reasons and others, the lease contract should be subject to termination."

Hearing this, the court requested the plaintiff to provide further proof of direct physical damage suffered to cancel the lease contract. Park Byunghwa did not attend the trial that day.

Earlier, the homeowner A had notified Park Byunghwa in writing of the termination of the housing lease contract and filed a civil lawsuit. A's side, following advice from Hwaseong City Legal Team that the tenant's failure to disclose any information about Park Byunghwa's background at the time of the lease contract in November last year could also be grounds for contract termination, proceeded with the lawsuit.

The homeowner's family stated, "Since it has been confirmed that a family member presumed to be Park Byunghwa's mother used a seal in Park Byunghwa's name to sign the contract without a power of attorney, this lease contract is invalid," adding, "If the eviction request is ignored, we plan to proceed with a delivery lawsuit to forcibly remove him."

Park Byunghwa was arrested on charges of breaking into villas in Gwonseon-gu and Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, from December 2002 to October 2007 and raping ten women in their twenties. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and served his sentence before being released in October last year. After his release, he moved into a one-room apartment owned by A in the university area of Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong, and is reported to be staying indoors without going out.