▲ Gyeonggi Northern Branch of Korea Legal Protection and Welfare Agency. Naver Map
Kim Geun-sik, who served 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting 11 minors, will be admitted to a rehabilitation facility under the Ministry of Justice in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, following being released on the 17th. The facility is adjacent to residents’ living facilities, such as a child welfare facility within 200m of a straight line, and strong opposition is expected from the local resident community.
Kim Dong-geun, Mayor of Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, held an emergency press conference on the 14th and said, “Child rapist Kim Geun-sik has confirmed that he will be admitted to the Korea Justice Protection and Welfare Service under the Ministry of Justice, a rehabilitation facility in Uijeongbu.”
Kim Geun-sik is expected to serve 15 years in prison for raping 11 minors in the metropolitan area between May and September 2006, and will be released on the 17th. Since the release of the news has been released, the residents have not been able to decide where they plan to live.
Mayor Kim said, “I have confirmed this information from a government agency this morning.” “The Minister of Justice will strongly demand the withdrawal of the designation for admission to the Uijeongbu rehabilitation facility.” Mayor Kim is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Justice this followingnoon.
Choi Jeong-hee, chairman of the Uijeongbu City Council, also said, “The city council and parents’ groups will hold a rally in solidarity and oppose admission to the rehabilitation facility.”
The Gyeonggi Northern Branch of the Korea Justice Protection and Welfare Corporation, a rehabilitation facility under the Ministry of Justice, is located in Nokyang-dong, Uijeongbu. Right next to the building is a facility where the US military used to be stationed. There are used car sales complexes and maintenance facilities nearby, and residents explained that it is not a place where students usually go. However, there are also residential facilities such as children’s clothing facilities and apartments within a 200-meter radius.
A resident near the rehabilitation facility said in a phone call with the Seoul newspaper, “It’s not a road that many people usually go to,” but “(Kim Geun-sik is coming) I feel very uncomfortable.”
In an online cafe in the Uijeongbu area, articles such as “Is Kim Geun-sik coming to Uijeongbu?” and “Kim Geun-sik should be banned from living” are following.
Kim Geun-sik can stay in this facility for a maximum of two years. Personal information will be released on the 17th, the day of release, through the ‘Sex Offender Notification e’ site and mobile web. Kim Geun-sik is not allowed to go out from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., her school day, and cannot meet women under the age of 19 or visit places frequented by female students.
Reporter Kim Jung-rae
