"Let's Execute Jo Doo-sun" Citizens' Anger Peaks... Controversy Over 'Private Punishment'

'Child Sex Offender' Jo Doo-sun to Be Released on the 12th
Civilians and YouTubers Await Near Residence for 'Direct Punishment'
"Let's Punish Him," "Death Penalty Is the Answer" Conflicts Over 'Private Sanctions'

Child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was released after serving his sentence, is entering the Ansan Probation Center of the Ministry of Justice in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] With 'child sex offender' Jo Doo-soon (68) released after serving his full sentence on the 12th, controversy is brewing as a movement to impose 'private sanctions' (私的 制裁) against him is emerging. This movement arises from the perception that the punishment for his crime of sexually assaulting an elementary school student was too lenient.

Jo Doo-soon kidnapped an elementary school student on her way to school, brutally sexually assaulted her, and then abandoned her at the crime scene before fleeing. In court, he testified that he was intoxicated and had no recollection of the incident, a claim the court accepted, sentencing him to 12 years in prison.

As a result, some citizens argue that directly punishing Jo Doo-soon through physical harm is the only way to bring him to justice. However, there is also opposition, stating that such witch-hunt style sanctions undermine the foundation of the rule of law, sparking heated debate.

Even on the 13th, a day after his release, YouTubers conducting solo broadcasts and some citizens intending to assault and punish him are waiting in front of Jo Doo-soon's house. They are poised to exact a form of retribution the moment he steps outside.

There is significant public support for this. Kim, a company employee in his 30s, said, "It seems that citizens have stepped up because the state failed to properly punish him," emphasizing, "(Physically assaulting Jo Doo-soon) is illegal, but many people truly want it." He added, "Kidnapping a perfectly healthy elementary school student and brutally sexually assaulting her, and only getting 12 years (imprisonment) is absurd," expressing his outrage.

Lee, a university student in her 20s, said, "Jo Doo-soon shows no sign of remorse," raising her voice. "When he was released, he appeared to reluctantly greet people with his hands behind his back, showing no indication of repentance." She added, "I hope people understand why there is such anger."

The official vehicle carrying child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was released after serving his sentence, was blocked by some citizens and YouTubers while leaving the Ansan Probation Center of the Ministry of Justice in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The stance of citizens wanting to punish Jo Doo-soon through physical harm falls under 'private sanctions.' Private sanctions refer to individuals or groups deciding and executing punishment privately, outside the judicial system in a rule-of-law state. Due to procedural illegality and lack of objectivity, such actions inevitably lead to what can be described as 'witch trials,' resulting in unjust victims.

Typically, private sanctions arise from anger over lenient punishments or the desire to directly punish criminals. Jo Doo-soon’s case is currently such a situation.

However, public opinion largely accepts the citizens' anger and views it as understandable. Criticism is widespread that the punishment was too light compared to the severity of Jo Doo-soon's crimes.

In January 2009, the prosecution sought a life sentence for Jo Doo-soon, who was charged with rape and injury. However, the court in the first trial considered his intoxication as a mitigating factor and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. Jo Doo-soon appealed and filed a final appeal, claiming the sentence was too harsh, but these were rejected.

In September of the same year, the Supreme Court upheld the first trial's ruling, confirming a 12-year prison sentence, 7 years of electronic monitoring, and 5 years of public disclosure of personal information. Jo Doo-soon was incarcerated at the Gyeongbuk Northern No. 2 Prison (then Cheongsong Prison).

At the time, the court’s lenient punishment and Jo Doo-soon’s appeals sparked public outrage, including petitions demanding the death penalty, the maximum legal punishment. In October, the month following the Supreme Court ruling, a candlelight rally was held at Seoul Plaza, calling for stricter punishment of child sex offenders and measures to prevent sexual violence.

In September 2017, three years before his release, the Blue House’s national petition board was flooded with petitions opposing Jo Doo-soon’s release. The petition gathered over 600,000 signatures within three months, marking it as the most supported petition at the time.

Members of civic groups such as Jayuyonda and GZSS are holding a rally on the afternoon of the 11th in front of Nambu Prison in Guro-gu, Seoul, condemning the release of child sex offender Jo Doo-soon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The timeline of Jo Doo-soon’s crime, trial process, opposition to his release, and the ongoing public outrage years after his release are linked to the irreparable damage to the victim’s life and the relatively mild punishment he received. Consequently, although private sanctions are illegal, public opinion does not see them as problematic. This phenomenon is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, on the 13th, the Ansan Danwon Police Station announced that it is operating a special response team to closely monitor Jo Doo-soon. This team conducts near 24-hour surveillance, disregarding the previous inspection system that checked only once every three months, ensuring no vulnerable times are missed. Additionally, the police have installed and are operating a special security post about 10 meters from Jo Doo-soon’s residence.

The post provides a direct view of the entrance to Jo Doo-soon’s residence, allowing real-time monitoring of his comings and goings. Furthermore, 15 additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at five locations in the area to track his movements. Considering residents’ anxiety over his release, patrol personnel including mobile patrol units, police officer mobile squads, and child safety guardians will also be increased for the time being.

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