"Jodusun to Be Released Tomorrow"... Citizens Still 'Anxious' Despite Countermeasure Announcement

'Jodusun Recidivism Prevention Act' Passed in Plenary Session
Citizens Warn of 'Retribution' Ahead of Jodusun's Release
'Retrial Needed', 'Opposition to Release Vehicle and Security Support' Cheong National 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 12.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] With the release of child sex offender Jo Doo-soon just one day away, public anxiety is growing. Jo Doo-soon has a history of violently kidnapping and sexually assaulting an elementary school student, as well as committing multiple serious crimes, raising concerns about a high risk of reoffending after his release. Consequently, voices online are calling for direct retribution against Jo Doo-soon. Police and local governments are accelerating efforts to establish crime prevention measures to prevent his reoffending and related incidents.

According to the legal community on the 11th, Jo Doo-soon will be released on the 12th. The release is expected to occur in the early morning hours.

After his release, Jo Doo-soon will be required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet for seven years, and his personal information will be publicly disclosed for five years through the 'Sex Offender Notification e' system.

As public outrage over Jo Doo-soon has not subsided, the National Assembly passed a partial amendment to the law concerning electronic device attachment, known as the 'Jo Doo-soon Surveillance Act,' on the 9th.

The amendment restricts individuals who have committed sex crimes against children and adolescents under 19 years old and have been ordered to wear electronic devices from going out during specific times such as nighttime or school commuting hours. It also limits the wearer's movement range to within 200 meters of their residence.

On the 8th, a petition titled "Please allow a retrial for Jo Doo-soon if more than half of the citizens agree" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition website capture

Despite these measures, citizens continue to express anxiety. On the 8th, petitions titled 'Allow retrial of Jo Doo-soon if the majority of the public agrees' and 'Oppose vehicle and security support for Jo Doo-soon's release' were posted consecutively on the Blue House's public petition board. As of 8 a.m. on the 11th, they had received 52,615 and 5,704 endorsements respectively.

The petitioner stated, "Please allow a retrial through a public referendum for a heinous criminal who was released after receiving an extremely light sentence that the majority of the public cannot agree with," urging, "If the majority agrees through a public vote, the retrial should be conducted."

Another petitioner expressed outrage, saying, "I cannot contain my anger after seeing reports that the criminal Jo Doo-soon will be kindly escorted home upon release," and emphasized, "The Ministry of Justice and police should not use taxpayers' money to escort Jo Doo-soon home upon his release."

In response, judicial authorities stated that a retrial request is currently impossible under existing law, and that transportation and security support are necessary to prevent confusion and ensure safety at the scene.

Mixed martial artist Myung Hyun-man (35) announced through his YouTube channel that he plans to take action against Jo Doo-soon. Photo by Myung Hyun-man YouTube capture

As public anxiety intensifies ahead of Jo Doo-soon's release, there is also a movement among citizens to directly punish Jo Doo-soon for crimes that the law has failed to adequately address. Online communities and YouTube are flooded with content expressing intentions to carry out private retribution on the day of his release.

When news broke in September that Jo Doo-soon's release was imminent, a post titled "I live in Ansan. I am hoping for Jo Doo-soon's release" appeared on an online community.

Mixed martial arts fighter Myung Hyun-man (35) also announced on his YouTube channel in October that he plans to visit Jo Doo-soon on the day of his release.

Meanwhile, Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison in December 2008 for kidnapping and sexually assaulting an elementary school student in front of a church in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, causing serious injuries.

Since the end of October, the government has designated the area within a 1 km radius of Jo Doo-soon's residence as a women's safety zone, installing 35 additional CCTV cameras and setting up security posts to create a crime prevention environment.

Jo Doo-soon will be managed and supervised at the highest level, being designated as a one-on-one electronic monitoring subject immediately upon release.

A dedicated probation officer will conduct one-on-one electronic monitoring by tracking Jo Doo-soon's movements when he goes out, and will carry out unannounced visits to his residence and workplace. Compliance with restrictions such as 'alcohol prohibition,' 'entry and victim approach bans,' and 'outing restrictions' will also be monitored.

The local police station will operate a response team to provide 24-hour close supervision. Specialized programs aimed at fundamentally addressing the causes of crime, such as cognitive behavioral therapy to improve sexual awareness and alcohol treatment, will also be implemented.

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