Gyeonggi Office of Education Issues Statement on Sexual Offender Park Byeonghwa, Urges 'Eviction'

Panoramic View of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Southern Building

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education urged the serial sex offender Park Byung-hwa (40), who settled in a one-room apartment in Bongdam area, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to leave on the 31st of last month.

On the 1st, the Gyeonggi Office of Education issued a statement saying, "We urge the departure of serial rapist Park Byung-hwa who threatens the safety of students," and added, "The one-room apartment complex in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong City, where Park Byung-hwa moved in, is an area densely populated with universities as well as elementary, middle, and high schools."

It continued, "The distance from his residence to the elementary school is only about 500 meters," and "students, parents, and local residents are feeling extreme anxiety and threats to their safety."

Therefore, it urged, "All possible measures to ensure the safety of students must be taken, including the eviction of Park Byung-hwa, strengthening security management in the area, expanding crime prevention facilities, and enhancing safety education."

The Gyeonggi Office of Education particularly pointed out, "This issue is not just a problem of a specific area," and "Conflicts and opposition from local residents regarding the residences of sex offenders such as Jo Doo-soon and Kim Geun-sik after their release have repeatedly occurred."

Meanwhile, Park Byung-hwa was arrested on charges of breaking into villas in Gwonseon-gu and Yeongtong-gu, Suwon City, from December 2002 to October 2007 and raping ten women in their twenties. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and was released on the 31st of last month after serving his full term.

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