Professor Lee Sujeong: "Jo Doo-soon Retrial Impossible... Need to Discuss Protective Custody System"

Professor Lee Su-jeong, Department of Criminal Psychology, Kyonggi University. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] With less than 100 days remaining until the release of Jo Doo-soon (68), who is serving time for child sexual offenses, Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University stated on the 7th that "if a system is legislated to subject offenders to a form of protective custody to prevent sexual crime recidivism, it can be applied before release."

Professor Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day and said, "Since this is a finalized case, a retrial is impossible under the principle of ne bis in idem."

Regarding the growing public anxiety over Jo Doo-soon's release, she said, "It is difficult to say that the system is robust enough to completely eliminate such fears," adding, "In Jo Doo-soon's case, I understand that his spouse has expressed a willingness to live with him and help suppress recidivism."

On the opinion that Jo Doo-soon's face should be publicly disclosed online, she explained, "Currently, postal notifications are sent to residents in the area where the sex offender lives, but posting online could cause other problems," elaborating, "For example, with the emergence of the 'Digital Prison,' faces have been exposed, but the problem is that some of those people have not been convicted, leading to cases of extreme choices."

Professor Lee added, "The law and system are not well enforced online," and said, "At first, only Jo Doo-soon's information might be disclosed, but it could quickly escalate to 100 or 200 people." She further noted, "Compared to electronic anklets, the public disclosure system has never been reported to have proven effects in suppressing recidivism."

Meanwhile, Jo Doo-soon is serving a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, in December 2008.

The prosecution sought a life sentence considering the brutality of the crime and his 18 prior convictions, but the court confirmed a 12-year sentence, citing that Jo Doo-soon was intoxicated at the time of the crime. Jo Doo-soon is scheduled to be released on December 13.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.