Sex Offender Risk Remains at Gwangju Kindergartens and Daycare Centers

Over 70% of Schools Have Sex Offenders Living Within 1km
"Urban Concentration" Keeps Parents on Edge
Baek Seungah: "School Safety Systems Must Be Reviewed"

Seungah Baek, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

It has been found that nearly half of all daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide have a sex offender residing within a 1-kilometer radius, leaving parents' concerns unresolved.

On October 1, Seungah Baek, a proportional representative of the Democratic Party of Korea, revealed data submitted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family titled "Status of Schools with Registered Sex Offenders Residing Within a 1-Kilometer Radius." According to the data, out of 26,153 daycare centers nationwide, 15,380 (58.8%) have a sex offender living nearby.

High schools (51.3%) and kindergartens (50.0%) also exceeded the halfway mark, while middle schools (47.1%) and elementary schools (44.7%) were also included in high-risk areas at significant rates, highlighting clear gaps in the child safety network.

Based on all school facilities, there was a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Last year, 55.0% of schools had a sex offender living nearby, while this year the figure dropped slightly to 54.1%. However, most experts point out that this is merely a numerical change and does not represent a substantial reduction in the actual threat faced by children. This is because, although the number of daycare centers and kindergartens has decreased and the number of elementary, middle, and high schools has increased, the proportion of schools with a sex offender nearby remains high.

Of particular concern is the concentration of sex offenders in certain regions. In Seoul, more than 80% of daycare centers (80.5%) and kindergartens (80.4%) had a sex offender residing within 1 kilometer, an overwhelming figure. Elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul also exceeded 75%, far surpassing the national average. In other major cities such as Gwangju and Incheon, high rates were also recorded for daycare centers (Gwangju 73.3%, Incheon 70.3%) and kindergartens (Incheon 72.8%, Gwangju 71.9%), as well as for all school levels, indicating that urban children's safety is under serious threat.

As of September this year, the highest number of sex offenders residing within a 1-kilometer radius by school type was as follows: daycare centers, 22; kindergartens, 19; elementary schools, 19; middle schools, 20; and high schools, 18.

Assemblywoman Baek stated, "The proportion of sex offenders living near schools after their release continues to rise, so anxiety among students, parents, and school staff remains unresolved." She emphasized, "Relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Education, metropolitan and provincial offices of education, and the National Police Agency, must recognize the seriousness of the situation, thoroughly review the entire school safety system for students, and establish comprehensive improvement measures."

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