'Serial Rapist' Park Byunghwa Cannot Be Evicted... Landlord Loses Possession Lawsuit

Byunghwa Park Moves into University Area Studio After Release Last Year
Landlord: "Would Not Have Signed Contract If I Had Known About Sex Crime"

The landlord who filed an eviction lawsuit demanding the removal of serial rapist Park Byunghwa (40) lost the case. On the 20th, the Suwon District Court Civil Division 7 (Judge Kim Jinman) announced that it dismissed the plaintiff's claim in the 'building delivery claim' lawsuit filed by landlord A against Park Byunghwa. The court did not specify the reasons for dismissal in court.

In the complaint, Mr. A argued that entering into the lease contract without any prior disclosure of Park Byunghwa's personal background constituted a declaration of intent by fraud. Mr. A emphasized, "This building is located only about 100 meters from the back gate of a university and approximately 400 meters in a straight line from an elementary school. If we had known about the defendant's history of sex crimes in advance, we would not have signed the lease contract."

He added, "Police are still stationed around the building, and residents are expressing anxiety, stating that if the defendant does not leave, they will terminate the contract and move out. Allowing contract cancellation or termination to defend oneself from property damage has significance," he said.

A press conference demanding the eviction of serial rapist Park Byunghwa was held on the morning of November 1 last year at a one-room apartment in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, where Park Byunghwa resides. The event was attended by Jeong Myeong-geun, mayor of Hwaseong, nearby school parents, and local residents.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Attorney Oh Dohwan, representing Mr. A, stated after the ruling, "Since this is a civil lawsuit, the issue was how much (financial) damage the individual who filed the lawsuit suffered. The building in question is not in a high-priced residential area and has low rent, so it seems the judge took this into consideration when making the ruling." Mr. A's side plans to review the judgment and decide whether to appeal.

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 20s. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and served his sentence before being released in October last year.

After his release, Park Byunghwa moved into a one-room apartment owned by Mr. A near a university area in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. Currently, the police have deployed local officers around Park Byunghwa’s residence for constant surveillance.