Crime prevention is much better than cracking down after incidents have occurred. But this is easier said than done. Therefore, getting tougher with those who commit grave crimes such as homicide, kidnapping and sexual violence is inevitable to avoid recurrence of violations. Now, people ask a question: What would happen if law enforcement authorities are poor at taking preventive measures, while judges are too lenient with brutal criminals?
The answer is simple: Any nation that can't firmly establish the rule of law, which is the basis of democracy, will become a jungle. No one except murderers, gangsters, drug and human traffickers, and other criminals wants to see the law of the jungle prevail in society. That's why many countries around the world are waging a war on crimes to maintain law and order to prevent innocent citizens from falling victim to lawbreakers. The South Korean government is also stepping up its campaign against violence, rape, abduction and homicide.
But the recent case of rape on an eight-year-old girl by a habitual sex offender proves that the nation's efforts against crime are futile. The entire nation was shocked by belated news about the horrifying sexual assault on the innocent first grader who sustained serious injuries from the violent act in Ansan, south of Seoul, last December. It is hard to measure the pain and trauma of the child victim and her parents. The girl, known as Na-young, is still in the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
Aside from the brutal nature of the crime, it is all the more regrettable to realize that the 57-year-old brazen-faced criminal, identified as Cho, has received only a 12-year prison term. How could the court become so lenient with a perpetrator who has repeatedly denied his criminal act despite strong evidence presented against him by investigators? The prosecution demanded life imprisonment for him at the trial. But judges handed down a lighter sentence, taking into account the fact that he committed the crime under the influence of alcohol.
Public anger is exploding over the softer-than-expected punishment. More than 400,000 Internet users have signed a petition through the online portal site Daum, calling for a retrial, the imposition of capital punishment against Cho, and compensation for the victim and her family. Even President Lee Myung-bak expressed regret over the ruling in the case during a weekly Cabinet meeting.
The government, law enforcement authorities and the court have to overhaul the whole justice system in order to get tougher with criminals like Cho, who has shown no sign of repentance over his act. The authorities have long been engrossed in cracking down on anti-government demonstration, while neglecting soaring crimes against children and women. It is imperative to mobilize all possible means to fight against grave crimes to make the nation a safe place to live. It is also necessary to strengthen surveillance on habitual offenders and toughen the sentencing guidelines on major crimes such as murder, kidnapping and sexual violence.