Kim Geun-sik's Detention Hearing Concludes... Decision on Re-arrest May Be Made as Early as Tonight

Minor sexual assault offender Kim Geun-sik / Photo by Incheon Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The hearing held on the 16th to decide whether to re-arrest Kim Geunsik (54), who was found to have committed additional child sex crimes before his imprisonment in 2006, has concluded. The decision on his re-arrest is expected to be made as early as that night, just one day before his release.

At 3 p.m. that day, the Suwon District Court Anyang Branch conducted a pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) for Kim Geunsik, who was subject to an arrest warrant request on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Earlier, around 2 p.m., Kim Geunsik departed from Anyang Prison, where he was incarcerated, in a Ministry of Justice escort vehicle and arrived at the court in about 20 minutes. While still inside the vehicle, he entered the parking area within the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch building next to the courthouse and then went inside the court, avoiding exposure to the press.

After about an hour-long warrant review, Kim Geunsik returned to Anyang Prison to await the results. The decision on whether to issue the arrest warrant is expected as early as that night, or at the latest before 5 a.m. on the 17th, when his scheduled release is due.

According to the prosecution, Kim Geunsik was accused by one victim of sexual violence that occurred in 2006. The victim was reportedly a minor 16 years ago. Under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, which came into effect in April 2010, the statute of limitations for Kim Geunsik’s additional crimes is presumed not to have expired yet.

The Special Act newly stipulates that the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases involving minors starts from the day the victim reaches adulthood. If the victim was under 13 years old at the time, the statute of limitations does not apply. Considering these points, the prosecution judged that the statute of limitations for Kim Geunsik’s additional crimes has not yet been completed and requested the arrest warrant. If the warrant is issued following the hearing, Kim Geunsik is expected to be investigated by the prosecution while in custody.

The legal community views the possibility of re-arrest as high. Above all, Kim Geunsik’s residence is not fixed, raising concerns about flight risk. If released as scheduled, Kim Geunsik was expected to stay at the Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch. It appears he chose this place because he had no suitable residence to go to.

Meanwhile, Uijeongbu City, where the Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch is located, strongly opposed Kim Geunsik’s entry. Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Donggeun issued an “emergency administrative order to block traffic on Ipseok-ro,” a road near the facility where Kim Geunsik was scheduled to move in, and operated an on-site mayor’s office to respond strongly.

Kim Geunsik was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting 11 female students from elementary to high school in Incheon and the Gyeonggi area between May and September 2006. During his imprisonment, his sentence was extended by one year due to involvement in two assault incidents.

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