"'Recidivism Risk Nearly 100%' ... Kim Geun-sik on the Possibility of 'Chemical Castration'"

Oh Eun-young: "Difficult to Change the Desires or Fantasies of Pedophiles"
Prosecutors Re-arresting Kim Geun-sik Consider Requesting Medication Treatment Order for Sexual Urges

Child sex offender Kim Geun-sik, who is serving a sentence on charges of serial sexual assault of 11 minors. Photo by Incheon Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The prosecution is considering requesting a "sexual impulse drug treatment (chemical castration)" order for Kim Geun-sik, who was re-arrested on the eve of his release after serving a 15-year sentence for sexually assaulting 11 minors, due to new sexual crime allegations.

Sexual impulse drug treatment, known as chemical castration, was introduced in South Korea in 2011 with the purpose of protecting society from sex offenders with a high risk of recidivism. It involves administering drugs that suppress sex hormones via injection, rendering sexual function inactive for a certain period.

If the court issues a treatment order for a period within 15 years, probation officers execute it under the direction of prosecutors. The Anyang branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office is reportedly reviewing whether Kim Geun-sik meets the legal requirements for requesting sexual impulse drug treatment. However, chemical castration requires a determination that the individual cannot control abnormal sexual impulses or desires and poses a high risk of reoffending.

Experts: "Diagnosis of Pedophilia Possible"

Experts believe Kim Geun-sik has a high risk of reoffending and that chemical castration is absolutely necessary. Psychiatrist Dr. Oh Eun-young agreed on the necessity of chemical castration.

In an interview on June 20 with MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," Dr. Oh stated, "No matter how long pedophiles are confined in prison or other institutions, their desires or fantasies do not change," adding, "Thinking that these individuals (pedophiles) can be reformed into different people through education without drug treatment is underestimating the problem."

Dr. Cha Seung-min, a psychiatrist who worked for four years until the end of last year at the National Forensic Hospital (formerly the Treatment and Custody Center), said in a radio interview on June 14, "Pedophilia is diagnosed when there is a persistent sexual desire toward children under 13 years old for more than six months," and added, "In Kim Geun-sik's case, with 19 related prior convictions, a diagnosis of pedophilia seems possible."

Regarding experts' view that the likelihood of reoffending in pedophilia cases is "almost 100%," Dr. Cha agreed, saying, "It can be seen as a congenital disease, so if there is no continuous treatment and the person simply returns to society, these desires remain, and if a sexual target appears before them, they are very likely unable to resist."

Another expert also assessed Kim Geun-sik's risk of reoffending as quite high. Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University appeared on YTN Radio's "Wise Radio Life" on June 17 and stated, "(Kim Geun-sik) is much more likely to reoffend than Jo Doo-soon because he does not have a spouse." When asked about Kim's tendencies that make him a high risk for reoffending, Professor Lee explained, "Kim Geun-sik has 22 prior convictions, many of which are for sex crimes. In 2000, he was sentenced to five years for child sexual assault and reoffended just 16 days after release."

Professor Lee analyzed, "Even when his serial sexual assaults on 11 victims were revealed and he was imprisoned, he continuously committed assaults inside prison. Last year, he was tried for two assault cases, resulting in an additional one-year sentence. Although he completed over 400 hours of psychological treatment programs in prison, he exhibited various problematic behaviors, and his risk of reoffending did not decrease."

Kim Geun-sik Re-arrested on Charges of Forced Indecency One Day Before Release

Kim Geun-sik was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting 11 minors consecutively from May to September 2006 in Seo-gu and Gyeyang-gu of Incheon City, as well as Goyang, Siheung, and Paju cities in Gyeonggi Province, and has been serving his sentence at Daejeon Prison.

Meanwhile, the prosecution re-arrested Kim Geun-sik on June 16, one day before his scheduled release. He is charged with forcibly molesting a minor under 13 years old, A, in 2006 (violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, etc.).

This charge was newly revealed in addition to the crimes for which Kim was convicted. A confirmed Kim's past sexual crimes through the media and reported to the police at the end of 2020 that she was forcibly molested by Kim Geun-sik. The prosecution found the charges credible and re-arrested Kim on June 16.

Kim Geun-sik filed a detention review petition claiming his re-arrest was unjust, but the court dismissed his petition on June 19, stating, "There is a risk of flight and evidence destruction, so detention is necessary." Accordingly, the prosecution plans to indict Kim Geun-sik by early next month after supplementary investigation.

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