Authorities grappling with release of child rapist
Officials set up a surveillance camera in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 13. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
Ahead of the scheduled release of notorious child rapist Cho Doo-soon, the judicial authorities are facing compounded problems ― protecting the public from further violent crimes, relieving the anxiety of residents in the region where Cho plans to live and protecting the pedophile rapist from vigilante justice as some angry members of the public have pledged to “punish him personally” upon his release.
Cho, 68, is scheduled to be released from prison in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsnag Province, Saturday, after serving out a 12-year sentence for kidnapping and violently raping an eight-year-old girl who was on her way to school in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. The victim was left with severe injuries resulting in permanent internal damage.
It is easy to find online posts or YouTube videos of people announcing their plan to wait in front of the prison gate or visit his home in Ansan to personally level street justice on Cho. Their reasons are based on the widely agreed criticism that the 12-year sentence was far too lenient considering the injuries the girl has to bear for the rest of her life. At the time the court cited “mental and physical weakness under the influence of alcohol” in reducing Cho's prison term from 15 years to 12.
An Internet user uploaded a video titled “I live in Ansan. I wish for Cho to be released from prison soon.”
In the video, the user said, “Once I see that absolutely subhuman scum, I will beat him to death … I hope this will make the victim and her family feel a little better.”
He then said he was willing to go to jail after the attack, and the video gained attention with more than 136,000 views.
Other users left comments such as “I will support you if you open a sponsorship account,” and “This is so cool. Please find him and carry out the revenge.”
In addition, there have been posts encouraging such attacks, with an address being posted online for Cho's family in Ansan, although it is not known whether it is the correct one or not. His face has already been made public.
The posts and comments seem to be aimed at expressing anger rather than demonstrating a willingness to actually attack him, but the law enforcement authorities are preparing for the possibility of attempts on his life.
In response, the Ministry of Justice has been considering separating Cho from other prisoners and sending him to his residence in Ansan by arranging a private vehicle, but this is also causing controversy over why the government would provide such preferential treatment for a criminal convicted of such a brutal crime.
However, the city government of Ansan, where Cho resided before his imprisonment and will live after his release, and the police are taking measures to protect residents there as it has been said Cho is highly likely to reoffend.
The local government said it has strengthened patrols around Cho's house, set up guard posts and installed surveillance cameras prior to his release, and will install more.
Upon his release, Cho will be closely monitored 24 hours a day by a dedicated probation officer. He will be tracked at all times through a GPS-enabled electronic anklet for the next seven years as required by law.
Regarding Cho's release from prison this weekend, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun wrote on Facebook, “Under the current law, there is no way to isolate the criminal after his release. In response, the justice ministry asked a local court to order Cho to be banned from approaching the victim, entering child facilities, consuming alcohol or staying out at night, and is awaiting the court decision.”