The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, July 1, 2022 | 07:13
Law & Crime
Horrific crime: South Koreans fear release of pedophile rapist from 2008
Posted : 2017-11-09 14:20
Updated : 2017-11-10 14:10
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
The Minister of Justice Lee Kwi-nam speaks to pedophile rapist Cho Doo-soon at Cheongsong Prison, Mar. 16, 2010. Cho was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping a girl, 8, in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, in December 2008. / Korea Times file
The Minister of Justice Lee Kwi-nam speaks to pedophile rapist Cho Doo-soon at Cheongsong Prison, Mar. 16, 2010. Cho was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping a girl, 8, in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, in December 2008. / Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan


A pedophile rapist's inhuman act in the city of Ansan in 2008 tested South Koreans' resilience to extreme shock.

About 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 11, Cho Doo-soon, then 56, saw a girl, 8, in front of a commercial building in the Gyeonggi Province city.

The drunken man gagged her with his hand and carried her to a public toilet in the building. He bashed and choked her until she fell unconscious. He then sexually assaulted her, causing horrific internal injuries. About 30 minutes later, he left the unconscious victim at the scene and went home.

Danwon police arrested Cho two days later after their investigation found his fingerprints in the toilet and bloodstains on his clothes and shoes.

Despite prosecutors' demand for life imprisonment, the final court ruling dismissed the unrepentant Cho's appeal and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. The sentence's leniency enraged the public.

While the attack has remained one of South Korea's worst rape crimes, a petition posted on the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae's homepage on Sep. 6 grabbed national attention. Titled "Veto to Cho Doo-soon's discharge," the petition said the rapist, serving his sentence in Cheongsong Prison in North Gyeongsang Province, should never be released.

The post has gained over 208,757 votes, passing the 200,000 that requires the presidential office to state its official stance on the issue within 30 days. Petition supporters said "the nation must protect all underage victims" and "12 years doesn't compensate the victim's traumatic experience."

The Minister of Justice Lee Kwi-nam speaks to pedophile rapist Cho Doo-soon at Cheongsong Prison, Mar. 16, 2010. Cho was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping a girl, 8, in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, in December 2008. / Korea Times file
South Korean singer Ali's 2011 song "Nayoung" ― referring to the victim of Cho Doo-soon's attack ― was criticized because some lyrics upset listeners. The song was written without the agreement of the victim and her family. Critics, including the victim's parents, said some of the lyrics depicted the girl as a prostitute. / Korea Times file
While Cho has three years left to serve, the public and lawmakers are questioning whether there are ways to keep him behind bars. The South Korean legal system does not allow a retrial of a convicted criminal unless there is new evidence or new witnesses.

Rep. Pyo Chang-won of the ruling Democratic Party, also head of the Pyo Institute of Crime Science, said a new law was needed to deal with criminals like Cho and prevent them reoffending. Cho has a long criminal record.

Some of the starkest sentiments behind the public's opposition to Cho's discharge involve the heinous nature of the crime and their discontent with the judiciary's controversial decision not to seek the maximum sentence because Cho was drunk.

Authorities have withheld the victim's name to protect her and her parents.

In January 2010, the girl had successful surgery to repair her colon and reproductive system, according to the nation's online encyclopedia. But her mental trauma has reportedly worsened. She fears that after becoming a doctor ― which she dreams of ― she might again encounter Cho.

Emailaoshima11@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
LG
  • Will Japanese PM Kishida accept Yoon's olive branch?
  • Minimum wage for next year increased 5% to 9,620 won
  • Heavy downpour hits central regions [PHOTOS]
  • Major expressway in Seoul closed off due to heavy downpours
  • Hole-in-one golf insurance policy exploited by fraudsters
  • Samsung chief's daughter to attend Colorado College in fall
  • 'Tangible outcome' in arms deal with Poland expected soon
  • Jill Biden advises first lady Kim: "Just be yourself"
  • [INTERVIEW] 'New order takes root in fashion e-commerce industry'
  • LG, Hanwha, LS eye EV charging biz for future growth
  • [INTERVIEW] Park Hae-soo talks about differentiating his character in 'Money Heist' remake [INTERVIEW] Park Hae-soo talks about differentiating his character in 'Money Heist' remake
  • Korean studies struggle to grow despite success of K-pop, K-dramas Korean studies struggle to grow despite success of K-pop, K-dramas
  • 'Money Heist: Korea' ranks No. 2 on global Netflix chart 'Money Heist: Korea' ranks No. 2 on global Netflix chart
  • [INTERVIEW] Park Chan-wook says 'Decision to Leave' is sexy without sex scenes [INTERVIEW] Park Chan-wook says 'Decision to Leave' is sexy without sex scenes
  • [INTERVIEW] Bae Suzy shows another side in 'Anna' [INTERVIEW] Bae Suzy shows another side in 'Anna'
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000 [PHOTOS]

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group