Jodusun Said "I Will Return to Ansan Where My Wife Lived"... But Is His Wife Moving Out of the Apartment?

Jodusun Scheduled for Release on December 13
In Meeting, Expressed Desire to Return to Ansan Where Wife Lived
Mayor of Ansan: "Citizens' Anxiety is High... Protective Custody Needed"

Jo Doo-soon, who was indicted in early 2008 on charges of sexually assaulting an elementary school student and causing serious injury. / Photo by JTBC, screenshot from the program 'Ssulzun'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Jo Doo-soon (68), who was sentenced to prison 12 years ago for brutally sexually assaulting a child, is reportedly planning to return to live in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, where his wife used to live, after his release this December. However, reports have emerged that Jo Doo-soon's wife has already left the apartment where she used to live.

According to 'News1' on the 15th, Jo Doo-soon's wife, identified as A, has reportedly left an apartment complex in Ansan where she previously resided. The media reported that after interviewing residents of the apartment complex, A moved to another location in January. The media did not specify the area or place she moved to.

Earlier, during a psychological counseling interview at the Ansan Probation Office in July, Jo Doo-soon reportedly expressed his intention to "return to Ansan, where his wife lives, after release and live without causing trouble."

Ansan is also the city where Jo Doo-soon lived before his incarceration. Previously, Jo was prosecuted and sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting and seriously injuring an elementary school student in this area in 2008. Jo Doo-soon is scheduled to complete his sentence and be released on December 13.

Given the circumstances, residents of Ansan are reportedly expressing anxiety. There are concerns about a sex offender returning to live in the area where the crime was committed.

On the 15th, Ansan Mayor Yoon Hwa-seop appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "There have been about 3,600 calls from people saying they will leave Ansan if Jo Doo-soon comes, asking how they can live feeling so uneasy." He added, "Many questions are coming into the civil complaint call center, such as 'Where is Jo Doo-soon's house?' and 'Where are the security closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) installed?'"

On the afternoon of March 16, 2010, Jo Doo-soon, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison, is seen on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) screen at the security department of Cheongsong Prison in Gyeongbuk. / Photo by JTBC capture

Mayor Yoon emphasized, "The fact that a criminal like Jo Doo-soon lives in the same area as the victim is itself terrifying." He added, "Although electronic anklets reduce the rate of sexual reoffending, there were 55 cases last year and about 30 cases in the first half of this year where sexual offenses were committed while wearing electronic anklets."

On the same day, Mayor Yoon also appealed for the urgent enactment of the 'Sex Offender Protective Custody Act' before Jo Doo-soon's release. The Protective Custody Act, first submitted by the Ministry of Justice on April 9, 2015, centers on isolating and supervising released offenders such as child sex offenders in protective custody facilities for a certain period after their release.

Mayor Yoon stressed, "The demand for strong measures like protective custody is because it is more important to alleviate the anxiety and harm felt not only by the victims and their families but also by the citizens."

Meanwhile, Jo Doo-soon was previously tried in December 2008 for kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and seriously injuring an elementary school student in front of a church in Danwon-gu, Ansan.

At that time, the prosecution sought a life sentence for Jo Doo-soon, but the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison, citing his old age and mental impairment due to alcoholism.

The Ministry of Justice plans to make every effort to prevent recidivism upon Jo Doo-soon's release. The number of supervisors at the Ansan Probation Office responsible for Jo Doo-soon’s probation will be increased from two to four, and additional electronic monitoring officers will be assigned to oversee him through a location tracking device (electronic anklet).

Furthermore, probation officers in charge of Jo Doo-soon will receive weekly reports on his movement routes and daily plans, and will conduct unannounced visits to check on his living conditions.

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