"Please Stop Jodusun" Ansan Citizens' Dismay and Anger [Han Seunggon's Incident Notebook]

"Returning to live in Ansan" Jo Doo-soon, December release causes 'anxiety' among Ansan citizens
"Why Ansan?", "Can't live due to anxiety", "Cannot trust remorse" outcry
Mayor of Ansan requests Ministry of Justice to legislate 'Protective Custody Act'
Political circles begin legislation of 'Jo Doo-soon Prevention Act' to block 'drunkenness mitigation' as reason for sentence reduction

On the afternoon of the 14th, Ansan citizens are spending their leisure time shopping at the multicultural street market near Ansan Station. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Ansan=Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "It's very unsettling," "Regret? How could someone do such a terrible thing and then say that..."

On the afternoon of the 14th at Ansan Station in Gyeonggi Province, citizens expressed their fear upon hearing the news that child sex offender Jo Doo-soon (68) might return to Ansan, his original hometown, after his release this December. Most showed feelings of anxiety and confusion, using words like "uneasy," "horrible," and "we don't know what might happen."

According to the Ministry of Justice, during a meeting with counselors at the Ansan Probation Office last July, Jo Doo-soon reportedly said, "I am remorseful. After my release, I will return to Ansan where I used to live and live without causing trouble."

Citizens expressed strong concerns, saying they could not believe Jo Doo-soon's remorse and were worried about his return to Ansan.

Kim (60), who said he has run a shoe repair shop near Ansan Station for 15 years, said, "I was working here when the incident happened, and the neighborhood was in chaos," adding, "Jo Doo-soon is coming back? I am against it." He continued, "I feel uneasy. We don't know what that criminal might do again. This is the same place where the incident happened. Everyone here has bad memories. How can he come back here?" he vented.

He also raised his voice, saying, "I want to say one thing. Even now, when someone says 'I was drunk and don't remember,' or 'I was intoxicated and don't know,' they get off lightly. It's absurd and frustrating. Why is the law like this?"

Lee (25, female), a self-employed person near the station, strongly opposed Jo Doo-soon's return to Ansan. She said, "The government has announced it will strengthen management of Jo Doo-soon, but no one knows when or where he might commit a crime. What if he cuts off his electronic ankle bracelet and commits a crime? How can that be prevented?" She expressed her anxiety and added, "You never know what might happen. Who can guarantee anything? Why is he coming to Ansan?" she lamented.

CCTV in an alley of a residential area in Ansan OO-dong. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

The anxiety of citizens was evident in various places. When buying or selling houses, safety was the top priority, and some residents even expressed trauma at just hearing Jo Doo-soon's name.

Kim (40), who has been working in real estate in OO neighborhood of Ansan for 10 years, explained, "Recently, people coming to look at houses ask about how many CCTV cameras are installed around the alleyways and their homes. There is a strong focus on security." He added, "In my personal opinion, why was Jo Doo-soon released... I have many complaints about the judges."

Kim, a company employee in his 40s met near the multicultural street close to Ansan Station, said, "Considering the victim, I think Jo Doo-soon should not be sent to Ansan," emphasizing, "I hope the government reconsiders. Is there no law? I believe most Ansan citizens oppose this." He repeatedly urged, "I hope Jo Doo-soon never comes to Ansan by any means."

Meanwhile, some citizens said that just thinking about Jo Doo-soon, who committed such a horrific crime, causes them pain. Park, a woman in her 50s who runs a mart, said bluntly, "I wish we wouldn't talk about Jo Doo-soon at all." She added, "Everyone in the neighborhood tries to forget, but really, is Jo Doo-soon really coming back here (Ansan)? I can't understand it," expressing strong dissatisfaction.

Lee, a man in his 70s who runs a street stall near the station, also said, "A person who did such a bad thing is coming back here? What kind of law is that? It doesn't make sense," jumping up in anger. He continued, "If Jo Doo-soon comes here, all the bad memories will come back. What did the people in the neighborhood do wrong?" he vented.

CCTV in the alley of a residential area in Ansan OO-dong. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Experts analyzed that the anxiety of Ansan citizens is a natural phenomenon.

Oh Yoon-sung, a professor in the Department of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, explained, "It is natural for citizens to feel uneasy just from the news that Jo Doo-soon might come to Ansan." He added, "From the perspective of ordinary citizens, he should have received the maximum sentence or life imprisonment, but he was released after serving 12 years. Citizens cannot understand this and can only be angry."

He further analyzed, "Jo Doo-soon says he is remorseful and apologizes to the victim, but when people recall the horrific crimes he committed, they cannot trust his words. Therefore, citizens inevitably feel anxious."

Regarding the possibility of Jo Doo-soon's reoffending, he explained, "Although the government says it will manage him strictly, no one can guarantee 100% control, so there is bound to be anxiety about the possibility of future crimes."

Meanwhile, as the anxiety of Ansan citizens grew, Mayor Yoon Hwa-seop of Ansan sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice requesting the enactment of the Protective Custody Act. The Protective Custody Act aims to isolate heinous criminals such as child sex offenders, habitual sex offenders, and serial killers from society for a certain period after their sentence ends by placing them in separate facilities.

The Ministry of Justice announced the bill in September 2014 but it did not pass the National Assembly. At that time, the Ministry explained the reason for the legislative notice, saying, "In situations where heinous crimes such as child sexual abuse threaten the lives and safety of the public, there are limits to preventing recidivism with measures like electronic ankle bracelets, and the majority of the public demands measures to prevent reoffending."

On the afternoon of March 16, 2010, Jo Doo-soon, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, is seen on the CCTV screen at the security department of Cheongsong Prison in Gyeongbuk.

According to Ansan City on the 14th, Mayor Yoon stated in the letter sent to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, "The fact that Jo Doo-soon, who committed a horrific crime 12 years ago, is returning to Ansan deeply angers the victim, their family, neighbors, and all 740,000 citizens."

Mayor Yoon said, "It is a fact known to all our people that he received a lighter sentence than the crime he committed," and added, "Ansan City submits the opinion that the enactment of the Protective Custody Act, which the Ministry of Justice announced for legislation on September 3, 2014, is even more urgently needed at this point."

Mayor Yoon emphasized, "Ansan City believes that there is no practical way to control Jo Doo-soon other than enacting a law to introduce the protective custody system before his release," and said, "I believe that much of the great anxiety currently experienced by many citizens can be alleviated depending on the minister's will."

Also, as criticism over the sentence reduction due to 'drunkenness mitigation' for Jo Doo-soon grew again, the political circle began legislative efforts for the so-called 'Jo Doo-soon Prevention Act' to block sentence reductions due to intoxication. The 'Jo Doo-soon Prevention Act,' a partial amendment to the Criminal Act, aims to block the chronic problem of reducing sentences for crimes committed while intoxicated.

Previously, Jo Doo-soon was tried for kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and seriously injuring an elementary school student in front of a church in Danwon-gu in December 2008. Although life imprisonment was sought, the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison, citing his old age and mental impairment due to alcoholism.

At that time, the public outrage was sparked by the prosecution's life imprisonment request instead of the death penalty and the court's recognition of sentence reduction due to intoxication. Jo Doo-soon is scheduled to be released on December 13.

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