What Do You Think About Providing Jodusun with 1.2 Million Won Monthly Welfare Benefits?

Application for Basic Livelihood Security Benefits Immediately After Jo Doo-soon's Release
120,000 KRW Monthly Benefit if Selected... Increased Possibility of Selection
"Do Not Grant Basic Livelihood Benefits" 청 National Petition Emerges
Basic Livelihood Security Act Has No Provisions Related to Criminals

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 of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] It has been confirmed that child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was released last month, submitted an application for basic livelihood security benefits. As it became known that Jo Doo-soon could receive up to 1.2 million KRW per month if selected as a beneficiary, public opinion is rising that this situation must be prevented. Although it is legally correct to provide the benefits, there are calls to revoke welfare benefits for Jo Doo-soon due to his horrific crimes against children.

It has been identified that Jo Doo-soon, immediately after his release in mid-last month, applied together with his wife at the Danwon District Office in Ansan City for the customized benefits of the National Basic Livelihood Security Program, which is provided to low-income households struggling to make a living.

The basic livelihood security living allowance and basic pension that Jo Doo-soon applied for are systems where the state guarantees basic living such as livelihood, education, medical care, and housing to low-income groups who have no ability to maintain their livelihood by themselves or with their families.

If the Jo Doo-soon couple is selected as beneficiaries of the basic livelihood security, they will receive 926,000 KRW for living allowance and 268,000 KRW for housing allowance, totaling 1,194,000 KRW for a two-person household. If they receive the basic pension of 300,000 KRW, the living allowance will be reduced by that amount, making the total around 1.2 million KRW.

Previously, Jo Doo-soon's wife was selected as a basic livelihood security beneficiary and had been receiving housing allowance. Ansan City provided her with up to approximately 225,000 KRW (for a single-person household, based on last year) in housing allowance, and as they became a two-person household upon Jo Doo-soon's release, they additionally applied for the living allowance.

Selection as a beneficiary is determined based on work ability, income, assets, etc., and factors such as disability, age, single-parent households, and children who have aged out of protection are also used as selection criteria. The city plans to comprehensively assess their situation and calculate the appropriate support amount.

Currently, neither Jo Doo-soon nor his wife is working, and Jo Doo-soon is classified as a senior over 65 years old with no work ability. His wife is under 65 and classified as having work ability, but she complains of work interruption due to chronic illness and surrounding circumstances, as well as difficulties in finding employment, so it is highly likely that the couple will receive basic livelihood security welfare benefits. The decision on beneficiary status is usually made within 60 days after application.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board Capture

As it appears that Jo Doo-soon will receive welfare benefits, public opinion has strongly opposed this, with comments such as "Should we feed a heinous criminal with taxes?" and "Exclude criminals from beneficiary qualifications." On the 7th, a petition titled "Do not give basic livelihood security benefits to Jo Doo-soon" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner said, "It is humiliating to be the same citizen as such a shameless and monstrous person, and it is frustrating and feels like a waste of taxes to have to spend 1.2 million KRW monthly on him," adding, "Jo Doo-soon committed an unthinkable and heinous crime that is hard to replicate. I cannot accept that such a person is given 1.2 million KRW every month."

The petitioner continued, "This monstrous person who did not pay a single cent of tax for 12 years and only consumed taxes in prison now has to be provided living expenses until death? Please ensure that this administration is not executed and strive for proper administration." As of 9 a.m. on the 8th, the petition had 1,135 supporters and is classified as a petition under review for public disclosure by the administrator after obtaining more than 100 preliminary consents.

Meanwhile, the current Basic Livelihood Security Act does not have any restrictions on criminals, so unless there are other disqualifying reasons, Jo Doo-soon is expected to receive welfare benefits.

A representative from the Danwon District Office in Ansan City, where Jo Doo-soon resides, told Asia Economy, "We first conduct various investigations to determine whether welfare recipients can receive benefits, and if there are no disqualifying reasons, payment of support funds is possible," adding, "Currently, criminal records are not included among the disqualifying reasons."

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