Defense Cites "Old Age and Dementia"... Defendant Offers Final Statement of "Remorse" with Hands Behind Back
Personal Information Disclosure Ended on the 12th... Government Implements One-on-One Intensive Monitoring Amid Public Anxiety
Prosecutors have requested a two-year prison sentence for child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was indicted for repeatedly leaving his residence without permission during after-school hours.
On December 24, during the final hearing at the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court's Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Ahn Hyo-seung), the prosecutor requested that the court impose both a prison sentence and a court-ordered treatment and custody measure for Jo Doo-soon, who is charged with violating the Act on the Attachment of Electronic Devices, among other offenses.
The prosecutor stated, "The defendant has repeatedly violated the stipulated requirements, and even after being indicted and awaiting trial for these violations, he continued to breach the conditions, demonstrating particularly egregious conduct. Strict punishment is unavoidable in order to protect the public and ensure the effectiveness of the law."
The prosecutor further added, "The defendant's cognitive impairment symptoms have worsened, significantly increasing the risk of recidivism. Medication or psychiatric treatment is necessary."
In the closing argument, the defense attorney said, "All the unauthorized outings occurred during newly revised restricted hours, and in most cases, the defendant was stopped by probation officers in the entrance or stairwell. Please consider that the defendant is elderly, suffers from dementia, and has impaired decision-making capacity, making it difficult for him to lead a normal life."
In his final statement, Jo Doo-soon said, with his hands behind his back, "I will live my life in repentance and deep reflection."
Jo Doo-soon is accused of violating the 'after-school outing restriction order' by leaving his residence in a multi-family house in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, without permission on four occasions between late March and early June of this year. He is also charged with damaging his location-tracking electronic device inside his home.
In December 2008, Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison for kidnapping and sexually assaulting an elementary school student in front of a church in Ansan, causing severe injuries. He was released from prison on December 12, 2020. On December 4, 2023, at around 9:05 p.m., he was sentenced to three months in prison for violating the 'no outings after 9 p.m.' order and served his sentence.
Considering the brutality of his crimes against an elementary school student and the risk of recidivism, the court ordered the disclosure of his personal information for five years, which expired on December 12. As a result, Jo Doo-soon's personal information was removed from the 'Sex Offender Notification e' website operated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on December 12, and his residence and other details are no longer publicly accessible.
Although public disclosure of his personal information has ended, his obligation to register his information with the Ministry of Justice remains valid until December 11, 2030. He is also required to continue wearing an electronic ankle monitor.
With anxiety rising among parents, the Ministry of Justice is currently monitoring Jo Doo-soon through 24-hour intensive location tracking and one-on-one supervision by a dedicated probation officer.
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