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| Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon speaks during a parliamentary audit of his ministry at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Newsis |
By Lee Yeon-woo
Higher-risk sex offenders will wear an enhanced electronic device, according to Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon on Thursday.
The government has used the GPS-enabled electronic anklet since 2008 to monitor sex offenders once they are released from prison.
The electronic monitoring of sex offenders has been questioned as it has still failed to prevent sex crimes.
During a National Assembly audit on the ministry, Minister Han said an enhanced electronic device will be introduced soon.
"For higher-risk offenders like Kim Geun-sik, the Ministry is preparing to use a new electronic device covered with metal from next year. The currently in-use anklet's interior materials have seven layers, but the new one has 15 layers," Han said.
Kim is currently imprisoned on charges of raping 11 minors. His 15-year jail term is soon to finish. As he will be released on Oct. 15, concerns have been growing among parents.
Only 16 days after Kim's first release, police arrested him again and he was put back behind bars for raping 11 minors.
In response to the public's concern about whether the monitoring system will work properly, Minster Han said that the anklet's materials are considerably improved. "In appearance, the current anklet seems easy to cut off. We will break (offender's) drive to cut anklets in advance by transforming the outward appearance with metal."
Han also addressed understaffed probation officers' struggles at the audit. "The current number of the officers is totally insufficient. We requested to raise 131 staff numbers in relevant departments for the second half of 2022. In fact, the requested number is still not enough."
"I ask the National Assembly to cooperate and to give more support to us. Of course, we will do our best too. I tell my staff that we will all die if accidents happen again under this circumstance. This means despite the manpower shortage and struggles, we will prevent accidents by any means. Even though we are understaffed, we are doing our best."
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