Why one man’s move rocks Korea: A child molester’s move sparks controversy and fear

SEOUL: Cho Doo-soon, infamous for one of the most shocking crimes in South Korean history, has once again sparked public outrage and concern following his recent move to a new residence.

Cho, who was released from prison in December 2020 after serving 12 years for raping an eight-year-old girl, has moved from his previous home in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, to a nearby neighborhood.

His move to a new home, located just 2km away from his previous home, has once again sparked fear and controversy among local residents.

Since Cho’s release four years ago, his presence in Ansan has been a source of fear, leading to angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats.

Residents have expressed fear of his recidivism, given Cho’s brutal criminal past.

Despite measures to keep an eye on him, many felt uncomfortable with a convicted child molester living in the area, especially with families and children around.

Police installed a monitoring system at his home and added 35 surveillance cameras, brighter street lights and police booths around Cho to monitor his movements and deter people who threaten his safety.

Now that Cho has reportedly moved to a home just a five-minute walk from an elementary school and daycare center, outrage is mounting.

If the distance is extended to 1.5 km, there are about 10 primary, middle and high schools.

In regards to a notorious child molester living near schools, a new report released Wednesday (Oct. 30) found that more than half of the country’s daycares, preschools and elementary, middle and high schools have sex offenders who live within a radius of one kilometer.

According to the report submitted by Representative Paik Seung-ah, 59 percent of daycare centers, 51 percent of kindergartens, 45 percent of primary schools, 48 ​​percent of middle schools and 53 percent of high schools were exposed to the possibility of sex offenders in to encounter in the neighborhood.

By location, Seoul showed the highest rate, with 83 percent of childcare facilities in the area located within a kilometer of the predator’s home, requiring special attention and support from law enforcement agencies for student safety.

The government here has implemented a series of measures to monitor released sex offenders and warn communities.

This includes providing information about the place of residence and criminal record of the perpetrators, and offering the parties involved the opportunity to check how many sex offenders live in their area.

In Cho’s case, this public access to information has allowed his neighbors to stay informed of his location at all times, but that knowledge alone has done little to allay their concerns.

Police authorities have also stepped up their response to Cho’s move.

Patrols in the area surrounding his new home have been strengthened, with a full-time patrol car deployed near his home and additional officers assigned to the area.

However, the special security center previously stationed near its old residence has yet to find a new location in its new neighborhood, raising questions about the efficiency of building security as the Ministry of Justice, the police and local government must work together in advance to select the right location.

Cho was released from prison in December 2020 after serving 12 years for raping an eight-year-old girl in 2008.

The convict, then 57, forcibly raped the child in a church toilet in Ansan after kidnapping her while she was on her way to school.

The victim suffered such serious injuries that permanent internal damage occurred. – The Korea Herald/ANN