11 Minors Sexually Assaulted in Series Over 15 Years? ... Another Sex Offender to Appear Next Year

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Amid nationwide outrage over the news of sex offender Jo Doo-soon's release, controversy is growing as Kim Geun-sik (52), who serially sexually assaulted 11 minors in the Incheon and Gyeonggi areas over 10 years ago, is scheduled for release in September next year.

According to the legal community on the 13th, Kim, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and Protection of Victims (rape causing injury, etc.) and sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first trial, is expected to be released in September 2021.

Kim was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting 11 minor female students aged 9 to 17 in the Incheon and Gyeonggi areas from May 24 to September 11, 2006.

On May 24, 2006, at around 7:55 a.m. in Seo-gu, Incheon, Kim lured A (9), who was on her way to school, by saying "Help me carry a heavy load," got her into a van, then beat and sexually assaulted her when she resisted.

He also lured and sexually assaulted B (13) on June 4 at around 6:30 p.m. near an elementary school in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon; C (10) on June 8 at around 4:40 p.m. in Gyeyang-gu; and D (13) on June 20 at around 8:50 p.m. in a one-room apartment parking lot in Gyeyang-gu.

On July 3 at 12:01 a.m., he lured and sexually assaulted E (17) returning home in Gyeyang-gu, and on July 18, he committed another crime in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province.

Kim's crimes did not end there. On August 3, he lured and sexually assaulted F (11) in Incheon; on August 8, G (12) in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi; on August 10 at around 2:30 p.m., H (13) in Gyeyang-gu; and on September 11, I (12) in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi.

Kim's method was to lure young students by saying things like "Help me," get them into his van, move to secluded places, and then brutally beat and sexually assault minor elementary, middle, and high school students.

It was understood that Kim targeted minors because he had a sexual complex and experienced difficulties in having normal sexual relations with adult women.

At the time, Kim was already a 19-time offender. In 2000, he was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison for sexually assaulting a minor, but it was revealed that he sexually assaulted another minor just 16 days after his release, causing even greater shock.

With no sign of remorse or rehabilitation and continuing to commit sexual crimes against minors, some netizens expressed outrage, saying, "After Jo Doo-soon, another criminal like this is coming back into society..." and "How can a repeat offender get only 15 years?"

After his last crime, Kim lived on Deokjeokdo Island in Incheon, then fled to the Philippines using his younger brother's passport. When it became difficult to stay hidden, he returned to Seoul and was arrested on September 19 of that year.

The first trial court stated, "Considering that he was sentenced to 5 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child in 2000 and committed this crime again only 16 days after completing that sentence, the possibility of rehabilitation seems almost nonexistent," and added, "Given the severe physical and psychological trauma and pain the victims will carry for life, it is appropriate to isolate the defendant from society for life."

It further explained the sentencing rationale: "However, since the police publicly disclosed the defendant's real name and the case and issued a warrant, making further escape difficult, he surrendered and was arrested. He confessed to the crimes and cooperated with the investigation, which was taken into account in sentencing."

Kim appealed but the appeal was dismissed, and the 15-year sentence was confirmed. He is currently serving his sentence and is scheduled for release in September 2021.

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