Ministry of Justice to Strengthen Special Management of 'Busan Dolryeochagi' Perpetrator

The Ministry of Justice announced on June 7 that it would strengthen special management measures for the perpetrator currently detained at the Busan Detention Center in connection with the so-called 'Busan Dolryeochagi' incident, and take strong actions to prevent retaliatory crimes and other forms of secondary victimization.

On this day, the Ministry of Justice stated, "The Special Judicial Police Unit of the Daegu Regional Correctional Headquarters is currently investigating reports that the defendant in the 'Busan Dolryeochagi' incident, who is being held at the Busan Detention Center, made remarks about seeking revenge against the victim after release. Depending on the outcome of this investigation, we plan to take strict measures in accordance with relevant regulations, such as the Act on the Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Inmates, including disciplinary action and referring the case for criminal investigation if necessary."

Screenshot of the news screen on the 'Busan Dolryeochagi' incident. [Source=Yonhap News TV]

The ministry further explained, "The defendant is under special management, having been designated as a subject for supervised visits and mail inspection. If the conviction is finalized, we plan to transfer the perpetrator to a correctional facility far from the victim's place of residence."

The statement added, "The Ministry of Justice will do its utmost to implement strong measures and necessary institutional improvements to prevent retaliatory or secondary crimes by offenders."

The perpetrator in question was indicted for attempting to kill Ms. A, whom he followed for over 10 minutes as she was returning home in the early morning of May 22, 2022, in Busanjin District, Busan. He attacked her in the lobby of her officetel building and is currently appealing the 12-year prison sentence handed down in the first trial.

At the sentencing hearing for the appeal on May 31, prosecutors requested a 35-year prison sentence, the attachment of an electronic monitoring device, and a 20-year probation order for the perpetrator.

Previously, prosecutors uncovered additional evidence, including forensic results from the victim's jeans, re-examination of DNA results from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and facts showing that the defendant struck the victim on the back of the head to render her unconscious for the purpose of sexual assault, then dragged her into a CCTV blind spot and removed her clothing. Based on these findings, prosecutors amended the indictment-listing attempted murder as an auxiliary charge and attempted rape-murder as the primary charge-with the court's approval.

Meanwhile, the victim, Ms. A, recently appeared on CBS Radio and expressed her anxiety, stating that the perpetrator has been openly discussing revenge with fellow inmates in the detention center and memorizing her personal details.