"Drank Alcohol, Don't Remember" Jo Doo-sun Ahead of Release, Is He Really Reflecting?

"Repenting and Will Not Cause Trouble After Release"
'Child Sex Offender' Jo Doo-sun to Be Released on December 13
Petitions Against Release Surpass 200,000 Twice
"Not a Cursed Person," Denied Charges in Previous Petition

Jo Doo-soon, who brutally sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl and was sentenced to 12 years in prison after the court recognized his diminished mental capacity, is currently imprisoned in solitary confinement at Cheongseong Prison. He will be released on December 13.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Jo Doo-soon, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping and sexually assaulting an elementary school student, has reportedly expressed remorse for his crimes and stated that he will not cause any trouble after his release.

However, during the first trial, Jo Doo-soon claimed in a petition, "I never committed such a heinous act that even beasts would not do. I am not a cursed person who repeatedly commits such disgraceful acts," leading many to doubt his current remorse and attitude.

According to the Ministry of Justice on the 10th, Jo Doo-soon, currently incarcerated at Pohang Prison, met with probation counselors from Ansan Probation Office in July and said, "I am well aware of how society evaluates my crime," and expressed remorse, stating, "I regret my actions and will not cause any trouble after my release," reportedly apologizing to the victim.

This counseling session took place as Jo Doo-soon approaches his scheduled release on December 13 this year. Since May, he has been undergoing intensive psychological treatment. The program lasts 150 hours over six months, and he is receiving treatment at least three times a week until early November.

Additionally, under the 'Act on the Protection, etc. of Specific Criminal Offenders,' Jo Doo-soon must wear an electronic ankle bracelet for seven years after his release. His personal information will also be disclosed for five years on the 'Sex Offender Notification e' system.

The issue remains whether Jo Doo-soon is genuinely remorseful and reflective as he claims. Previously, during the first trial, he strongly denied the charges of child sexual abuse.

According to a petition he wrote before the first trial, which was revealed by a media outlet in 2017, he claimed, "It happened because I was drinking. I don't remember anything after sobering up." He also denied all charges, saying, "I am not a cursed person," and "I never committed such a heinous act."

He particularly asserted, "I have maintained proper relationships with everyone, and no matter how drunk I was, I was a gentleman towards women." This makes it difficult to believe his current claims of remorse and regret as he approaches release.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board

Public opinion is also unfavorable. As of 9:20 a.m. on the 11th, there are 6,806 petitions containing 'Jo Doo-soon' on the Blue House National Petition Board.

One petitioner wrote in June, "I oppose the release of the sexual offender Jo Doo-soon," and urged, "I hope the country helps prevent Jo Doo-soon's release! I oppose his release so that our people can live peacefully!"

The 'Opposition to Jo Doo-soon's Release' petition posted in September 2017 garnered over 615,000 supporters. Another petition titled 'Request to Abolish Reduced Sentences for Intoxication' that cited Jo Doo-soon's case received over 216,000 supporters.

Amid growing public criticism of Jo Doo-soon's release, experts believe that the so-called 'Jo Doo-soon anxiety' is difficult to alleviate.

Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 7th and pointed out, "It is hard to say that the system is robust enough to completely eliminate such anxiety."

However, she emphasized, "If a system for protective custody to prevent sexual crime recidivism is legislated, it could be applied before release."

Regarding the opinion that Jo Doo-soon's face should be publicly disclosed online, she explained, "Currently, local residents are notified by mail, but posting online could cause other problems," citing the example of the 'Digital Prison' where faces were exposed, leading to extreme cases including suicides of people who were not even convicted.

Professor Lee added, "The law and system do not work well online. Initially, only Jo Doo-soon's face might be disclosed, but it could quickly expand to 100 or 200 people." She also noted, "Compared to electronic ankle bracelets, there has been no proven effect of public disclosure of personal information in preventing recidivism."

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

The prosecution sought life imprisonment considering the brutality of the crime and his 18 prior convictions, but the court sentenced him to 12 years, citing that he 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.