Changwon City Council: "Motel Stabbing Exposes Probation Management Loopholes" ... Adopts Government Proposal for System Reform

In response to a recent incident in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, where a probationer with a history of sexual offenses caused casualties among three middle school students at a motel, the Changwon City Council has unanimously adopted a government proposal urging improvements to the probation system.

On January 20, at the 1st plenary session of the 149th extraordinary meeting, the Changwon City Council unanimously approved the original draft of the "Proposal to Urge Improvement of the Probation Management System," which was sponsored by Councilman Jinhyung Ik and eight other members.

The 1st plenary session of the 149th extraordinary meeting of Changwon Special City Council is being held. Provided by Changwon Special City Council

The proposal calls for a system improvement requiring the police to immediately notify the Ministry of Justice's probation office whenever they investigate a probationer or bring them in for questioning or investigation on criminal charges.

It also includes measures for the gradual expansion of probation personnel, improvement of working conditions for dedicated staff, and the establishment of an institutional foundation for information sharing and joint response among related agencies, such as the police, the Ministry of Justice's probation office, and local governments.

As the lead sponsor, Councilman Jin explained, "The recent stabbing incident at a lodging facility in Hapjeong-dong, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, exposed structural loopholes in the probationer management system."

He further explained, "On the day of the crime, the suspect in his twenties, who was under probation for a prior sexual offense, was investigated by the police in the morning after a report that he had threatened his girlfriend with a weapon. However, this fact was not communicated to the Ministry of Justice's probation office responsible for managing his probation."

He continued, "This is because there is currently no obligation or guideline in the existing system requiring the police to notify the probation office when they investigate a probationer. As a result, the suspect went on to attack several youths later that same day, resulting in multiple casualties."

He also pointed out, "As of 2024, there are 12,301 juveniles and 33,141 adults under probation nationwide, but there are only 228 probation officers dedicated to juveniles and 398 dedicated to adults. This means each juvenile probation officer manages about 54 individuals, while each adult probation officer manages about 83, creating an unsustainable structure."

Jinhyung Ik, a Democratic Party council member of Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, is explaining the "Proposal to Urge Improvement of the Probation Management System" at the 1st plenary session of the 149th extraordinary meeting of the Changwon City Council. Photo by Se-ryung Lee

Councilman Jin stated, "At a minimum, systems designed to protect lives and ensure public safety must be activated the moment a warning sign is detected. This incident demonstrates the urgent need for comprehensive improvements and effective preventive measures in the national probation management system, which failed due to institutional and personnel shortages. We call on the government to take action."

Previously, on December 3, 2025, at a motel in Hapjeong-dong, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, a man in his twenties, referred to as Mr. A, attacked three male and female middle school students with a weapon, killing two and seriously injuring one, before falling to his death from the building.

After the incident, it was revealed that Mr. A was a probationer who had previously been sentenced to prison and ordered to disclose his personal information for a sexual offense against a minor, but he was not residing at the address listed on the "Sex Offender Notification e" system.

Additionally, on the morning of the motel stabbing, Mr. A was taken in for questioning by the police on suspicion of special threats after visiting a woman's residence with a weapon. However, he was released without further action because the situation did not meet the criteria for arrest in flagrante delicto or emergency detention.

The police were aware that Mr. A was a probationer, but due to the lack of a legal basis, they did not inform the probation office of the police investigation.

In connection with this, the bereaved family has announced their intention to file a damages lawsuit against the state.