Kim Geun-sik to be released in 2 weeks... Citizens anxious over 'recidivism risk warning'

Experts: "Child Sex Offenders Cannot Be Completely Cured Through Treatment"
Ministry of Justice Announces Legislative Notice for Expanded Treatment and Detention of Child Sex Offenders

Kim Geun-sik, a minor sex offender scheduled for release on the 17th of this month. Photo by Incheon Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Concerns are rising over the need to establish additional measures to prevent recidivism by Kim Geun-sik, a minor serial sexual offender, who is scheduled to be released on the 17th. Kim Geun-sik served 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting 11 minors in the Gyeonggi Province and Incheon areas between May and August 2006.

Parents with children are expressing their worries about Kim Geun-sik’s upcoming release. On the 4th, several posts appeared on mom cafes in the metropolitan area demanding extended curfew hours for Kim Geun-sik or speculating about his future residence after release. There were also advisory posts suggesting that children should be shown Kim Geun-sik’s photo and taught to avoid him if they encounter him. One netizen, who revealed she has three daughters, expressed concern, saying, "Where on earth does (Kim Geun-sik) live?" and "I’m worried I might have to follow my children to and from school."

Similar concerns arose in late 2020 when Jo Doo-soon was released. Jo Doo-soon, who sexually assaulted and injured an 8-year-old child, was feared to potentially commit crimes against children again. As it was known that Jo Doo-soon would return to the area where the victim child lived, residents in that area grew increasingly anxious.

Especially as Jo Doo-soon’s risk of reoffending remained high, public concern intensified. According to the 'Recidivism Prevention Measures Report after Jo Doo-soon’s Release' revealed through media reports at the time, the Ministry of Justice, based on pre-release interviews at the prison, assessed that Jo Doo-soon posed a risk of reoffending and requested the court to impose ▲alcohol restrictions ▲curfew ▲restrictions on approaching the victim.

Experts also judge that Kim Geun-sik has a high likelihood of reoffending. Profiler Pyo Chang-won explained on SBS’s 'Unanswered Questions' on the 1st that "Child sexual offenders diagnosed with paraphilia cannot be completely cured through psychiatric treatment." He added, "Kim Geun-sik’s crimes are not one-time incidents. They are intentional, planned, and habitual," warning, "The possibility of reoffending exceeds 100%. Kim Geun-sik will definitely reoffend." Professor Kwon Il-yong of Dongguk University’s Graduate School of Police and Judicial Studies also said, "This crime (sexual crime) never stops," adding, "It is a dangerous crime because it gradually escalates to more intense stimuli."

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon announced plans to expand treatment and custody for child sex offenders with pedophilic disorder on the afternoon of the 15th at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex Gwacheon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As public concern grew, the Ministry of Justice formed a dedicated team to closely monitor and supervise Kim Geun-sik, who is under probation. To closely manage and supervise Kim Geun-sik, they are preparing measures such as attaching a location tracking electronic device (electronic anklet), designating him as a one-on-one electronic supervision target, and assigning a dedicated probation officer for 24-hour monitoring. Additionally, Kim Geun-sik is restricted from leaving his residence from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m., including school hours for children and adolescents, and is subject to residence restrictions and mandatory travel reporting. Contact with females under 19 years old is also prohibited.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is promoting a plan to allow treatment detention even after the sentence ends for child sex offenders with pedophilic tendencies. On the 22nd of last month, the Ministry of Justice announced the legislative notice for the 'Partial Amendment to the Act on Treatment and Detention.'

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