59% of Nationwide Daycare Centers Have Sex Offenders Living Within 1km
Child sex offender Jo Doo-soon (71) has sparked controversy after moving to a location just a 5-minute walk from an elementary school and daycare center. It has been revealed that nearly half of the daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide have sex offenders living within a 1 km radius.
According to the 'Status of Schools with Registered Sex Offenders Living Within a 1 km Radius,' submitted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to Baek Seung-ah, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, 59% (16,280) of daycare centers, 51% (3,892) of kindergartens, 45% (2,864) of elementary schools, 48% (1,580) of middle schools, and 53% (1,257) of high schools had sex offenders residing within 1 km of their premises.
Among daycare centers, Seoul had the highest proportion at 83% (3,528 centers), followed by Gwangju at 76% (637 centers), Daegu at 71% (706 centers), Busan at 68% (924 centers), and Incheon at 66% (1,052 centers). Seoul also had the highest percentages for kindergartens and elementary schools, both at 82% (603 kindergartens and 499 elementary schools, respectively). The highest number of sex offenders residing within a 1 km radius by school type were 22 at A daycare center, 19 at B kindergarten, 19 at C elementary school, 20 at D middle school, and 18 at E high school.
Assemblywoman Baek emphasized, "The high rate of sex offenders living near schools after their release increases anxiety among victims and citizens. Since the safety of schools, students, and citizens is paramount, special attention and support from law enforcement agencies are necessary."
Child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was caught violating the curfew order and was non-detained prosecuted for violating the Act on Electronic Monitoring Devices, is answering reporters' questions after finishing his first trial held on the morning of March 11 at the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, it was confirmed that child sex offender Jo Doo-soon also moved from his previous residence in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, to a nearby location. It is reported that Jo decided to move due to the expiration of the monthly rental contract at his former residence. The problem is that his new home is very close to school facilities. Within a straight-line distance of 290 meters from Jo's new house, there is an elementary school, and within a 1.5 km radius, there are about ten elementary, middle, and high schools.
Meanwhile, Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison in December 2008 for kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and seriously injuring an elementary school student in front of a church in Ansan. He was released on December 12, 2020, and is required to wear an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) for seven years and is under probation. Additionally, he must comply with special conditions such as a nighttime curfew (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.), prohibition of excessive drinking (blood alcohol level above 0.03%), ban on entering educational facilities, and prohibition of contact or communication with the victim (within 200 meters of the residence).
However, on December 4 of last year, at around 9:05 p.m., Jo was charged with violating the nighttime curfew by going out for about 40 minutes outside his residence in Ansan. At that time, he was caught wandering around a police security post near his residence.
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