After Wife Leaves, Delirium Symptoms Worsen... Jo Doo-soon Again Leaves Residence Without Authorization

Previously Caught Leaving Home Four Times During School Dismissal Hours, Now on Trial
Repeated Violations of Outing Restrictions While Under Probation
Living Alone After Wife Left Earlier This Year

It has been confirmed that Jo Doo-soon, a convicted child rapist, was once again caught leaving his residence without authorization. On the 13th, Yonhap News reported that at around 8:00 a.m. on October 10, Jo left his unit in a multi-family house and went down to the main entrance on the first floor. When a probation officer stationed at the entrance stopped him, Jo returned to his home a few minutes later.

In March, Jo Doo-soon, a child sex offender who violated the nighttime outing restriction order and was caught leaving his home, was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Electronic Monitoring of Prisoners. Photo by Yonhap News.

Jo Doo-soon is currently under probation at his home in Danwon-gu, Ansan City, and is prohibited from leaving his residence during school commuting hours (7:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m.), as well as from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following day. However, it is reported that he violated the restriction order due to worsening psychological instability. This is not the first time Jo has breached his outing restriction. Previously, on December 4, 2023, at around 9:05 p.m., he was sentenced to three months in prison for violating the 'no nighttime outings after 9:00 p.m.' order. After his release, from March to early June this year, Jo left his residence four times during elementary school dismissal hours, but each time was sent back home by the probation officer stationed in front of his residence.

Notably, in June, while supervising the interior of Jo's residence, a probation officer discovered that he had damaged his home monitoring device. Jo has been indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Electronic Monitoring of Released Prisoners and is currently on trial at the Ansan branch of Suwon District Court. Since the beginning of this year, Jo has exhibited symptoms of mental disorder, presumed to be delirium, and it is reported that his condition has been worsening recently.

Jo, who used to live with his wife, has been living alone since his wife left earlier this year. As a result, probation officers have been assisting him by visiting his home in the morning and evening to provide daily necessities. In June, the Ansan Probation Office, considering Jo's mental health symptoms, requested a court order for psychiatric evaluation. The National Forensic Hospital conducted a psychiatric assessment at the end of July and concluded that involuntary treatment and custody were necessary. The court is expected to decide whether to issue a treatment and custody order at the time of sentencing.

Currently, probation officers, police, and city officials are stationed in front of Jo's residence 24 hours a day to maintain surveillance. In December 2008, Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison for kidnapping and raping an elementary school student in front of a church in Ansan, causing serious injuries. He was released on December 12, 2020, after serving his sentence.