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By Lee Ha-na
Twenty-seven sex offenders were discovered to be working at 270,000 youth facilities after the National Police Agency (NPA) conducted a nationwide investigation into the criminal records of 1.39 million. This was the first time the NPA conducted such an inquiry since the regulation went into effect in May 2006.
Of the 27 people, two were elementary and middle school teachers, one was waiting to be appointed as an elementary school teacher, four were working at private educational institutions, 17 were working at gyms and taekwondo academies, two were security guards, and one ran a childcare center.
Although sex offenders have been limited to employment options from five years ago, it has been confirmed that they have held various occupations in schools, gyms, and other places where they could work directly with adolescents.
Some of the sex crimes committed have not been sanctioned. Under Korean law, those who commit such crimes are forbidden to work at youth facilities for 10 years after conviction.
An NPA spokesperson said that efforts are being made to answer all questions about the crimes and that police are checking the criminal records of all current and potential employees at juvenile facilities to prevent more sex offenders from working there.
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