Infamous child rapist Cho Doo-soon wants to return home to Ansan south of Seoul when he is released from prison in December after serving just 12 years. That means he will live only around 1 km from the girl he brutally raped back in 2008, who ended up suffering permanent physical damage.
Ansan city has vowed to step up security around Cho's neighborhood, including additional security cameras to track his whereabouts.
Cho told prison psychiatrists in July that he "regrets" his crime and intends to "draw no more public criticism" after his release. He wants to return to Ansan, where his wife lives.
An official at the Ansan city government said, "We can't reveal the addresses of either the criminal or the victim due to privacy laws, but they are about 1 km apart."
"We expect the victim and her family as well as other locals to feel very nervous so we're installing additional security cameras in blind spots."
The city already has 3,622 security cameras and is installing 211 more this year.
Cho, who has a long rap sheet, abducted the schoolgirl in Ansan in December of 2008 and dragged her into a church restroom where he raped and mutilated her. The victim graduated from high school in 2017 and is now at university.
Police pledged to ensure that the victim does not bump into the rapist in the neighborhood. Cho must wear an electronic ankle bracelet for seven years after his release, and his personal information will be public for five years. Police will track his whereabouts for 20 years.
A police source said, "We usually meet convicted sex offenders every three months, but we intend to check up on Cho more often due to the fears of locals."
Probation officers in Ansan plan to use various programs to reduce the chances of Cho committing a repeat offense. They include one-on-one supervision and limits on his alcohol consumption. Four people will take turns watching him.
Cho has been serving his sentence in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. Since May, he has been receiving 150 hours of psychotherapy for rapists. The Justice Ministry wants to seek court approval for additional restrictions, including limits on his access to childcare facilities and other locations.
