Kim Geun-sik Re-arrest Sparks Cheers from Uijeongbu City: "We All Did It"

Kim Geun-sik Without Local Ties Faces Community Backlash Over Planned Admission to Uijeongbu City Facility
Following Statement on 15th, Rally Demands Withdrawal of Admission on 16th

Citizens of Uijeongbu gathered on the afternoon of the 16th at the plaza in front of Uijeongbu City Hall, Gyeonggi Province, to hold a rally opposing the admission of child sex offender Kim Geun-sik to a facility in Uijeongbu. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] As news spread that Kim Geun-sik, a serial sexual offender against minors, was re-arrested a day before his release, the city of Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province and its citizens, who had vehemently opposed his admission to a facility within Uijeongbu, breathed a sigh of relief.

Earlier, on the 13th, when it was reported that Kim Geun-sik's post-release residence would be the Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch, a correctional facility under the Ministry of Justice located in Uijeongbu, the city of Uijeongbu strongly opposed this, stating "Kim Geun-sik has no ties to Uijeongbu," and defined the situation as the "Child Sexual Offender Kim Geun-sik Incident,"

prompting active measures.

On the 14th, Uijeongbu City visited the Ministry of Justice to protest and demand the withdrawal of his facility admission. On the 15th, until the withdrawal of the admission plan, they operated an on-site mayor’s office at the Gyeonggi Northern Branch of the Protection Welfare Corporation in Ganeung-dong, Uijeongbu, conducting a relay one-person protest. Additionally, at 4 p.m. on the same day, an emergency administrative order was issued to block road traffic along the route for Kim Geun-sik’s transfer.

Furthermore, at 4 p.m. on the 15th, Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun, National Assembly members Oh Young-hwan, Kim Min-chul, Choi Young-hee, and Uijeongbu City Council Chairperson Choi Jeong-hee issued a joint statement. Titled "Immediately Withdraw the Designation of Child Sexual Offender Kim Geun-sik’s Admission to Uijeongbu. Korea Rehabilitation Welfare Corporation Gyeonggi Northern Branch, Leave Uijeongbu," the statement warned, "If the Ministry of Justice continues to ignore the safety of our citizens, we will mobilize all administrative power, including road closures," and cautioned, "We hope not to see the physical force of the 470,000 citizens of Uijeongbu."

Uijeongbu citizens also actively participated in the protests. Around 1,200 citizens gathered at the plaza in front of Uijeongbu City Hall at 3:30 p.m. on the 16th for a "Resolution Rally to Demand the Withdrawal of Child Sexual Offender Kim Geun-sik’s Admission to the Uijeongbu Rehabilitation Facility." They held placards reading "Ministry of Justice’s Rehabilitation Facility, Leave Uijeongbu," "22-time Convicted Sexual Offender Kim Geun-sik, Step Down," and "Ministry of Justice, Withdraw Kim Geun-sik’s Admission," chanting slogans. Within a 1 km radius of the facility Kim Geun-sik was to enter, there are six elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as 23 childcare centers, kindergartens, and facilities for the disabled, which led to particularly strong opposition from parent groups.

When news of Kim Geun-sik’s re-arrest was announced, Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun held a press conference at the on-site press room, expressing joy by saying, "Citizens of Uijeongbu, we all made it happen." In his statement, Mayor Kim said, "The blocking of Kim Geun-sik’s release was achieved through the strength and determination of our citizens," and added, "I am relieved by the judge’s decision, who immediately recognized the risk of Kim Geun-sik’s recidivism and escape."

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