'Sex Offender' Kim Geun-sik's Imminent Release... Will He Face YouTubers Like Jo Doo-soon?

Chaos as YouTubers Swarm at Jo Doo-soon's Release
Kim Geun-sik, with High Recidivism Risk... Local Area Also Uneasy

Child sex offender Kim Geun-sik (54), who sexually assaulted minors more than 10 times, will be released next month after serving his sentence.
[Photo by Incheon Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Child sex offender Kim Geun-sik (54), who sexually assaulted minors more than 10 times, is set to be released next month after serving his sentence.

As news of Kim Geun-sik's release spread, residents in Incheon and the western Gyeonggi region, where he committed his crimes, are growing increasingly uneasy. Additionally, similar to the time of Jo Doo-soon's release, YouTubers are expected to flock to Kim's release site and residence, raising concerns about major chaos.

Kim Geun-sik was tried on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting 11 minors between May and September 2006 in Seo-gu and Gyeyang-gu of Incheon, as well as Goyang, Siheung, and Paju cities in Gyeonggi Province. Most of the victims were under 13 years old.

◆ YouTubers caused chaos during Jo Doo-soon's release... Will it happen again this time?

The turmoil expected after Kim Geun-sik's release is anticipated to resemble the situation during Jo Doo-soon's release. When Jo Doo-soon, a child sex offender, was released in 2020, many citizens and YouTubers gathered around his escort vehicle. Some YouTubers even damaged the escort vehicle and deliberately obstructed its movement, causing traffic congestion.

One YouTuber shouted curses at Jo Doo-soon, saying "I'll kill you," while another encouraged viewers to support him by saying, "If you hit subscribe a lot, I'll break into Jo Doo-soon's house and drag him out." Another YouTuber visited Jo Doo-soon's residence and caused a public disturbance, inconveniencing local residents.

Some YouTubers engaged in near-criminal acts such as climbing the building's pipes where Jo lived or shutting off his home's gas pipes. At that time, videos were posted on YouTube showing live streams of the scene in front of Jo Doo-soon's house or eating jajangmyeon in front of his home.

On December 12, 2020, child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was released after serving his sentence, was blocked by some citizens and YouTubers while the official vehicle he was riding in was leaving the Ministry of Justice Ansan Probation Center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ High risk of reoffending by Kim Geun-sik... Growing anxiety in affected areas

Given the high likelihood of reoffending by Kim Geun-sik, residents in the areas where he will reside are increasingly anxious. Kim was previously sentenced to five years in prison for rape causing injury in 2000 and served time. Investigations revealed that he committed the crimes just 16 days after being released on May 8, 2006.

Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University said on YTN's 'News Rider' on the 2nd, "There is a high possibility that Kim will commit crimes using the same methods after his release," adding, "It is very concerning because it has been proven that he was highly maladaptive in society."

She continued, "There are no minors inside prison, so he might adapt to some extent there, but once released into society, there are many children in nearby living spaces. He has a history of being unable to control his impulses, so the question is what actions judicial authorities can take under current law after his release. That seems very difficult. There is concern that such incidents may repeat."

◆ Kim Geun-sik's residence after release not yet confirmed

Kim Geun-sik's post-release residence has not yet been finalized. Considering the high risk of reoffending, the National Police Agency plans to coordinate with the local police station and local government to implement security measures once his residence is confirmed. Additional security measures include operating special response teams within the jurisdictional police stations and installing closed-circuit television (CCTV).

The Ministry of Justice has decided to attach an electronic ankle bracelet to Kim and assign a dedicated probation officer for 24-hour close monitoring. Since May this year, the Ministry has conducted monthly pre-release meetings with Kim to identify any unusual behavior during incarceration and to establish post-release management plans. Kim Geun-sik's personal information can be checked on the 'Sex Offender Notification e' system, where his road name address and building number will be disclosed.

Meanwhile, Kim's release was originally scheduled for September last year, but his sentence was extended after being prosecuted for assaulting fellow inmates at Daejeon Prison in 2013 and 2014, receiving additional sentences of four months and eight months respectively.

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